Appointments are required and can be made starting Wednesday, Sept. 3, by calling MeritCare, toll free, at (888) 898-9229. There are only 150 appointments available.
- More about peripheral arterial disease - This common and potentially fatal disease is caused by blocked blood flow in the arteries of the legs and is an early warning sign for stroke and heart attack. The disease affects about 10 million people in the U.S., although many people don't know they have it. Those at highest risk are men and women over the age of 50 who have a family history of heart or vascular disease, smokers, or those who have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or are overweight.
- More about abdominal aortic aneurysm - This life-threatening condition occurs when the main artery of the body, the aorta, enlarges and acts as a ticking time bomb. If it grows large enough, there is danger it will burst - which is fatal in more than 80 percent of cases. Those at risk are men over the age of 60, smokers, or those who have a history of hardening of the arteries.
- More about Legs for Life - This month, Legs for Life, a free nationwide screening program, will help assist identifying and educating nearly 11 million Americans at risk for these potentially disabling diseases. For more information visit legsforlife.org.