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"LEGS FOR LIFE" PROGRAM COMES TO BOROUGH HALL ON SEPTEMBER 26TH

Get a free leg check up that might save your life!

On Thursday, September 26th, "Legs for Life,” a national program will be screening patients for Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) using a simple leg pressure test at Brooklyn Borough Hall from 9:00am till 5:00pm. People can pre-register for the testing by calling 718-270-1035.

Vascular Disease is the number one, overall, cause of death in people over the age of 65. Unfortunately, this is a silent killer, and people may not realize they have symptoms of the disease until its too late. Vascular Disease can often be treated now without major surgery if diagnosed early enough, and Brooklyn’s hospitals are very well equipped to treat this deadly disease.

“I’m urging all Brooklynites who might be at risk to please come to Borough Hall on September 26th and get tested for Peripheral Vascular Disease. It is a simple test which might save your life!” the Borough President said.

Patients at risk for Vascular Disease tend to be over 65. Other risk factors include history of diabetes and high blood pressure. Smoking also puts a patient at risk, as does a past history of stroke or heart attack. Other symptoms may include pain in the calves or thighs when walking. Family history of vascular disease can also be a factor. It also encompasses coronary artery disease (the cause of heart attacks), as well as the underlying cause of strokes and limb loss. Another aspect of Vascular Disease is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, a dangerous dilation of a blood vessel in the abdomen that can lead to sudden death.

An Ultrasound machine will also be on site to look for abdominal aortic Aneurysms and examine patients for the risk of stroke.

The involved organizing doctors are:

Jonathan Deitch M.D., Chief of Vascular Surgery at SUNY Downstate
Gary Gwertzman M.D., Chief of Vascular Surgery at Kings County Hospital
Marcus D'ayala M.D., Chief of Vascular Surgery at New York Methodist Hospital
Salvatore Sclafani, M.D., Chief of Interventional Radiology at Kings County Hospital