Healogics urges PAD screening during awareness month

Healogics is using Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month in September to push screening for a condition that often develops without clear symptoms and can lead to chronic wounds, amputation, heart attack and stroke. The company says early detection can help patients protect mobility and avoid serious complications.

Why it matters: - Peripheral Artery Disease often goes unnoticed until the condition is advanced, which can delay treatment and raise the risk of chronic wounds, mobility loss and limb-threatening complications. - PAD affects 1 in 5 people over age 60. - PAD also raises the risk of amputation, heart attack and stroke. - Screening can identify reduced blood flow before serious complications develop.

What happened: - Healogics marked Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month in September with a reminder to patients and healthcare providers to screen for PAD. - The company is spotlighting PAD risk factors, warning signs and the value of early detection. - Healogics also said it will support PAD awareness throughout September with educational materials, patient resources, social media content and community outreach tools.

The details: - PAD is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries that reduces blood flow to the legs and feet. - The condition is more common among people with diabetes, a history of smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease or age-related risk factors. - Some patients do not develop the classic symptom of leg pain, which makes awareness and screening more important. - Patients should talk with a healthcare provider if they have leg pain, aching or cramping while walking. - Other warning signs include coldness, numbness or weakness in the feet or legs. - Skin color changes or shiny skin on the lower legs can also signal PAD. - Weak or absent pulses in the feet are another warning sign. - Slow-healing or nonhealing wounds on the legs or feet can point to PAD. - Healogics said its network of nearly 600 Healogics-managed Wound Care Centers gives patients access to specialized wound care and hyperbaric services that can help identify underlying conditions such as PAD. - The Ankle-Brachial Index, or ABI, can help detect reduced blood flow before serious complications occur.

Between the lines: - Karla Prime, chief operations officer, said PAD Awareness Month is a chance to educate patients about a condition that is serious and treatable. - Prime said earlier screening can help patients protect mobility, maintain independence and improve long-term health. - Dr. Arti Masturzo, president of Healogics Specialty Physicians, said PAD is one of the most important and too often missed contributors to chronic wounds and limb-threatening complications. - Masturzo said earlier diagnosis gives patients more options to improve circulation, heal wounds and avoid amputation. - The emphasis on screening reflects a broader push to catch vascular disease before wounds become harder to treat.

What's next: - Healogics will continue its September awareness campaign with materials aimed at helping people understand PAD risk factors and recognize warning signs. - The company is directing patients to talk with healthcare providers about screening. - Healogics is steering people to more information and a nearby Wound Care Center.