Phylicia Rashad talks about PAD

Phylicia Rashad, well-known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the 80's comedy The Cosby Show, knows about heart disease -- she's had eight family members who lost their lives to it. So the actress has agreed to help two major drug manufacturers -- Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi Aventis -- spread the word about a condition called peripheral artery disease. Though the condition is not new, the disease is just now being recognized as an important risk factor for heart disease. As arteries become blocked with plaque, blood flow is reduced to the extremities. Patients with PAD may complain of pain or fatigue in the legs when walking or climbing, and the condition can more than double the risk of heart attack and stroke and can cause blood clots as well.

If you think you may have PAD or at risk for the condition, health experts recommend a yearly screening. Read more about PAD at the American Heart Association's website.