Media Outreach Materials
Customizable Press Release
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| [Insert Organization logo] | [Insert Stay in Circulation logo] |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: [Insert contact name] [Insert contact phone] |
[Insert Organization] Launches [Insert event name] as
Part of Effort to Raise Awareness about Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.)
One in 20 Adults Over Age 50 has P.A.D.—A Disease That Raises the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
CITY, STATE — [Insert Organization] announced today the kick-off of a new community effort, [insert event name], in support of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Stay in Circulation campaign, a national awareness campaign aimed at helping adults over the age of 50 learn about peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D.
In the United States, more than eight million Americans suffer from P.A.D.—hardening of the arteries (also known as "atherosclerosis") in the limbs, often the legs. One in 20 Americans over the age of 50 has P.A.D., and many of those with P.A.D. do not experience symptoms. P.A.D. can reduce mobility and increase the risk for heart attack and stroke, and if left untreated, P.A.D. can be fatal.
"[Insert event name] will be an opportunity for our community to learn about P.A.D. and the steps everyone can take to reduce their risk for this deadly disease," said [insert Organization contact].
[Insert event details here, including what, when, where.]
P.A.D. is caused by the same risk factors that lead to heart disease. It is a common and treatable disease. However, P.A.D. is still largely unknown, often unrecognized, and regarded by many as an inevitable consequence of aging. People who are at risk for P.A.D. include anyone over the age of 50, especially African Americans; those who smoke or have smoked; and those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, or a personal or family history of vascular disease, heart attack, or stroke.
P.A.D. is a serious disease that is on the rise among midlife and older Americans. Stepping up awareness of P.A.D. will help Americans stay in circulation and remain healthy and active.
[Insert Organization boilerplate.]
Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About P.A.D. is a national awareness campaign to increase public and health care provider awareness about peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) and its association with other cardiovascular diseases. The campaign is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-in cooperation with the P.A.D. Coalition, an alliance of national organizations and professional societies united to improve the health and health care of people with P.A.D. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/pad.
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