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Get a “Leg Up” on Vascular Health at Deborah’s PAD Screening Event

On Saturday morning, October 1, Deborah Heart and Lung Center will host a Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) screening event. The screening event will be held in person, by appointment only, at the Deborah campus.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects approximately 17 million Americans.  The number of PAD patients in our country continues to grow as the population ages and the incidence of obesity and diabetes increases. This common and potentially serious vascular disease occurs when arteries in the legs become clogged with fatty cholesterol deposits, reducing blood flow to the legs.  Typical symptoms include leg muscle pain and cramping when walking.  However, typical symptoms occur in only about 1/3 of patients with PAD.  One third will have atypical symptoms such as heaviness or easy fatigability.  Finally, 1/3 of patients, particularly diabetics, will have no symptoms at all.  In addition to amputation, patients with PAD are also at much higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death, as opposed to those without PAD. Too often these symptoms are ignored by both patients and physicians, or just attributed to “normal aging”.

“Many people are aware that if your arteries in the heart and neck get blocked you could suffer a heart attack or stroke. The same principles hold true for the arteries in the legs,” said Richard Kovach, MD, Chair, Interventional Cardiology and Medical Director of the Adult Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Deborah Heart and Lung Center.

The good news is that PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medication, and many types of non-surgical procedures.  Early diagnosis and proper treatment are key to living well with PAD.

Deborah urges anyone who is at risk to register for this screening event.  Risks for developing PAD include:

  • Smoking, both present and former smokers
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels
  • African-American ethnicity
  • Previous heart disease, heart attack, stroke or family history

Deborah’s PAD screening event includes a test called the ankle-brachial index, a painless, noninvasive test that compares the blood pressure in the ankles with the blood pressure in the arms, and can indicate if you may have PAD.  If appropriate, additional noninvasive testing may be recommended.

“PAD is a devastating disease that is often undiagnosed,” added Dr. Kovach.  “It is vitally important for those at risk to get screened for PAD.  This screening event increases awareness of PAD and improves our community’s vascular health”.

The PAD event will be held at Deborah Heart and Lung Center, 200 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 on October 1, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information, or to register for this screening, please call 609-793-9996 or visit demanddeborah.org/pad-screening-event.


Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, NJ is an 89-bed teaching hospital that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. Founded in 1922, Deborah has been a regional and nationally recognized leader throughout its 100-year history, during which time it has healed 2.3 million patients from every corner of the United States and 87 countries in the world. From performing the first open heart surgeries (adult and pediatric) in New Jersey, to running one of the highest volume left-ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant programs in the region, Deborah has stood at the forefront of medical innovation, all while never wavering from its founding mission “there is no price on life.” Deborah is consistently recognized as a leader in patient care from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ranked among the top hospitals in New Jersey for patient satisfaction; holds a top-tier Society of Thoracic Surgeons rating which places Deborah among the best cardiac surgery programs in the country; and is designated a national Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. Deborah is an Alliance member of the Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. 

Terms & Conditions

By participating in this quiz, or screening or health assessment, I recognize and accept all risks associated with it. I understand that the program will only screen for certain risk factors and does not constitute a complete physical exam. For the diagnosis of a medical problem, I must see a physician for a complete medical exam. I release Deborah Heart and Lung Center and any other organization(s) involved in this screening, and their employees and agents, from all liabilities, medical claims or expenses which may arise from my participation. Thank you for investing in your health by participating today.