[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 101 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 542--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEAS OF NATIONAL 
               PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mr. Dorgan) submitted the following 
resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 542

       Whereas peripheral arterial disease is a vascular disease 
     that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce the blood flow to 
     the limbs;
       Whereas peripheral arterial disease is a significant 
     vascular disease that can be as serious as a heart attack or 
     stroke;
       Whereas peripheral arterial disease affects approximately 
     8,000,000 to 12,000,000 Americans;
       Whereas patients with peripheral arterial disease are at 
     increased risk of heart attack and stroke and are 6 times 
     more likely to die within 10 years than are patients without 
     peripheral arterial disease;
       Whereas the survival rate for individuals with peripheral 
     arterial disease is worse than the outcome for many common 
     cancers;
       Whereas peripheral arterial disease is a leading cause of 
     lower limb amputation in the United States;
       Whereas many patients with peripheral arterial disease have 
     walking impairment that leads to a diminished quality of life 
     and functional capacity;
       Whereas a majority of patients with peripheral arterial 
     disease are asymptomatic and less than half of individuals 
     with peripheral arterial disease are aware of their 
     diagnoses;
       Whereas African-American ethnicity is a strong and 
     independent risk factor for peripheral arterial disease, and 
     yet this fact is not well known to those at risk;
       Whereas effective treatments are available for people with 
     peripheral arterial disease to reduce heart attacks, strokes, 
     and amputations and to improve quality of life;
       Whereas many patients with peripheral arterial disease are 
     still untreated with proven therapies;
       Whereas there is a need for comprehensive educational 
     efforts designed to increase awareness of peripheral arterial 
     disease among medical professionals and the greater public in 
     order to promote early detection and proper treatment of this 
     disease to improve quality of life, prevent heart attacks and 
     strokes, and save lives and limbs; and
       Whereas September 18 through September 22, 2006, would be 
     an appropriate week to observe National peripheral arterial 
     disease Awareness Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Peripheral 
     Arterial Disease Awareness Week;
       (2) acknowledges the critical importance of peripheral 
     arterial disease awareness to improve national cardiovascular 
     health;
       (3) supports raising awareness of the consequences of 
     undiagnosed and untreated peripheral arterial disease and the 
     need to seek appropriate care as a serious public health 
     issue; and
       (4) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     the week with appropriate programs and activities.

                          ____________________