Northern Kentucky - The St. Luke Hospitals are raising awareness for National Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Month in September by providing information and screenings on PVD to Northern Kentucky residents.

PVD is characterized by the narrowing of the arteries in the limbs, especially the leg, which can lead to pain when walking. The arteries become narrowed by cholesterol containing fat (plaque) that builds up and hardens in the arteries. People with PVD are at high risk for heart attacks and strokes. PVD is a common disease; the disease affects approximately 10 million people in the United States. However, only one in four are diagnosed and receive treatment for PVD.

Risk factors for PVD include: diabetes, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), high levels of "bad" cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), previous stroke or heart attack, family history of heart disease, obesity, sedentary lifestyle (minimal regular exercise), age - the risk increases with age. Men over age 50 are affected more frequently.

John Edwards, M.D., Medical Director of the St. Luke Regional Vascular Institute , recommends the following to reduce the risk of PVD:

• Stop smoking (smokers have a particularly strong risk of PVD).
• Control diabetes.
• Control blood pressure.
• Be physically active (including a supervised exercise program).
• Eat a low-saturated-fat, low-cholesterol diet.

The St. Luke Regional Vascular Institute is now offerings vascular screenings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at St. Luke Hospital West, 7380 Turfway Rd. in Florence. Call the Scheduling Line at 859-572-3440 to register for screenings for carotid artery disease, abdominal arterial aneurysm and/or peripheral vascular disease; space is limited. Screenings are $25 each ($75 for all three).

The St. Luke Hospitals are part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system that also includes The Christ Hospital, The University Hospital, The

Jewish Hospital, The Fort Hamilton Hospital, Drake Center, West Chester Medical Center and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care. To view other Health Alliance news releases, go to www.health-alliance.com/pressroom.

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