Leg artery danger unknown to many

Are you familiar with peripheral arterial disease (PAD)? I must admit, I was unaware of what it was, and 75 percent of the adult population in the U.S. is apparently in the same boat.

PAD is a very common blockage of blood vessels in the legs that boosts heart risk. It's estimated that 8 million Americans are affected with PAD, but most of the country has no idea it exists. Sounds like a matter of education to me. Artery blockages anywhere in the body is something patients need to know about. Well, let's just say citizens and include everyone.

PAD happens when the arteries in the legs are blocked with fatty deposits, much like what happens quite often in heart disease. The problem here is that the heart doesn't have an issue - the leg does, and amputation can even result in some cases.