Welcome  to  Public  Health  moment from  the  University  of  Minnesota. Three  out  of  four  American  adults  know  little  or  nothing about  peripheral  arterial  disease  or  AD, a  common  blockage  of  blood  vessels in  the  legs  that  boosts  heart  risk. That's  according  to  a  report  co authored  by  Dr.  Alan  Hirsch, a  professor  of  Epidemiology  and Community  Health  at  the  University  of  Minnesota. This  illness  is  important  because  it's  not  only  common, but  it  has  a  very  high  cardiovascular  event  rate, meaning  individuals  suffer  rates  of heart  attack  and  stroke,  but  also  amputation. It  affects  leg  blood  flow  and  the  combination of  these  effects  also  has  a  high  mortality  rate. Hirsch  says  that  there  are many  effective  treatments  for peripheral  arterial  disease, which  affects  about  9  million  Americans. A  common  symptom  of  PAD  is  leg  muscle  pain. For  these  individuals,  we  believe  they  should  understand that  leg  muscle  discomfort  is  a  heralding  warning  sign, no  less  important  than  chest  pain. But  Hirsch  adds  that  in many  cases  there  are  no  clear  symptoms. We  can't  rely  on  symptoms  alone. They're  important  to  recognize  the  vulnerable  population. Now  aware  of  PAD  via public  education  campaigns  seek  inexpensive, cost  effective  testing,  be  treated, and  maintain  their  health with  another  public  health  moment. I'm  John  Finnegan.