August Patient Community Newsletter
You may not know it, but for a week every August, communities across the country celebrate a big source of quality, accessible care: Community Health Centers! August 6 - 12, 2023 is National Health Center Week: a chance to think about how you and your loved ones benefit from health centers (or can benefit more, if you aren’t familiar with them). Community Health Centers are hubs for a lot of different services and resources, and are especially important for people who may not have access to other forms of health care. They are also local – they’re right in your communities, which make them easier to get to. If you aren’t sure whether you have a Community Health Center near you, try this tool from the Health Resources and Services Administration: findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Community Health Centers are an excellent resource to help you lower your risk factors for common vascular conditions, like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Let’s take a look at some common risk factors for PAD, and how a resource like your local Health Center may be able to help you lower your risk or manage symptoms and disease progression:
Smoking: Smoking is a big risk factor for vascular diseases like PAD, because they affect your blood vessels and how plaque accumulates in them. This can reduce blood flow, putting your limbs at risk of amputation. Many Health Centers across the country provide free or low-cost assistance with reducing or quitting smoking.
Nutrition: A diet full of (bad) cholesterol, trans fats, and salt is another risk factor for Peripheral Artery Disease. Community Health Centers can often help you learn about healthier ways of shopping for, preparing, and enjoying food – some even offer cooking classes!
Diabetes: Type II Diabetes is a condition that many people with PAD also have: we call these “comorbid” conditions. Not managing diabetes can lead to worsening effects of PAD (and vice versa). Your local Health Center can help you learn about diabetes and may even help you regularly monitor your condition, so that you can enjoy better health and lower your risk of advancing PAD.
Genice is a patient partner that took her care into her own hands, finding links between family history, diabetes, and vascular disease. She shares her story in a blogpost here – as you’re reading, consider how a Community Health Center may have helped her as she tried to learn more about PAD.
The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is excited to announce two new modules on our Vascular Health Equity Academy! The first will be on Diabetes and Vascular Health, and the second will be on Quitting Smoking: these modules will be very helpful as tools to learn about your health and lower these two risk factors for vascular disease. Stay tuned for more information about these modules, which are coming soon!
Vascular Cures’ Patients are Partners program is looking for patients or caregivers with lived experience of vascular disease.
We’re getting close to Peripheral Artery Disease awareness month, which is happening next month in September. If you are interested in sharing your story about living with PAD, you could be eligible for an engagement opportunity with one of our partners.
We partner with you according to your schedule, and opportunities are paid. Join us in improving vascular care and research for all! For more information, visit https://www.vascularcures.org/our-programs/patients-are-partners or email patients@vascularcures.org.