“Saving Legs, Saving Lives....Peripheral Vascular Disease Made Simple" has been recently published by the Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation and will be available to our community free of charge.  Edited by Dr. Nicolas W. Shammas with 12 contributing authors, the book offers a simple and comprehensive resource to rapidly growing population of peripheral artery disease, a disease of the blood vessels that supply the lower extremities, is likely to continue to increase in the future with the rise in obesity and diabetes.  Dr. Shammas wrote in the Preface of the book:

 

“Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) leads to amputations and is associated with a high rate of cardiovascular death and strokes.  Over the past several years there has been an exponential increase in peripheral vascular procedures that address the problem of PAD.  The answer to fight this disease, however, is first and foremost in its prevention.  In this book we address the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of PAD and invite our readers to play a key role in assisting in fighting this relentless disease that is costing our healthcare system billions of dollars and thousands of lives every year.  Together we can save legs and save lives.  Let the battle begin!”

 

This book is published by the Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Davenport, Iowa, established in August of 2002.  MCRF is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) public charitable foundation.  After the tremendous success of its first book, “Learn about Your Heart . . . Made Simple”, and its second book “Live Longer…Live Healthier: The Secrets for Graceful Aging”, the Foundation embarked on the ambitious project of accomplishing “Saving Legs, Saving Lives”. With 13 contributing authors and 17 chapters touching on peripheral arterial disease and offering advice on how to prevent and deal with the disease, the Foundation offers a simple but comprehensive resource to those suffering with diseases of the legs.  The book was written in question-and-answer format with a detailed index to help readers go directly to the questions they have in mind.  This book offers general directions and ideas and should not be considered a substitute for medical attention.

           

The Foundation is indebted to the generous support we have received from the various foundations in our community that allowed this book to be distributed free of charge in the Quad-City area.  We are specifically thankful to Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., Scott County Regional Authority, and Genesis Medical Center. We are also indebted to the tireless effort of many individuals who have made this book a reality by providing a high level of expertise, passion and dedication. I would like to acknowledge Suzanne Hartung for her tireless editing of the book, Lynne Majetic for the cover design, illustrations and graphic design/layout, and all the MCRF Foundation staff for their efforts and contribution.  We also extend special thanks for our Foundation legal and accounting advisers, Mr. Richard Bittner and Mr. Stephen Landauer, for their tireless efforts and support to the Foundation.

 

We sincerely hope that this book will help those suffering from peripheral arterial disease and that it helps them enjoy excellent health.

 

Nicolas W. Shammas, MD, MS, FACC