The Kathryn Weil Center for Education, St. Elizabeth Regional Health and area health care providers are teaming together to provide a free Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screening from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education.

The center is located in the Medical Arts Building, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400, in Lafayette.

PAD is a clogging of arteries in the leg that can be lifethreatening if left untreated. An estimated 12 million Americans have PAD, increasing their risk of death by two to six times from heart attack and stroke. PAD can decrease blood flow to the legs and feet, resulting in muscle fatigue and pain when walking and can lead to amputation, disability and diminished quality of life.

PAD develops slowly over many years and the chance of having PAD increases as you get older; people over age 50 are at highest risk for PAD, but the risk is increased among people who: • smoke or previously smoked; • have diabetes; • have high blood pressure; • have abnormal blood cholesterol levels; • are of African American ethnicity; and • have had heart disease, a heart attack or a stroke.

The screening is in conjunction with National Peripheral Arterial Disease month and materials are provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health and Spirit of Women Health Network.

Participants may also participate in a free personal cardiac assessment, which includes a cholesterol screening and a glucose screening, as well as a body composition assessment.

The screening is free and open to men and women. Registration is limited and required. To register, call (765) 449-5133.