Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
Congressman Henry Cuellar and Texas Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa support South Texas CLI and Limb Salvage Club to protect families of South Texas and the entire U. S. A.
Both leaders attended the inaugural dinner meeting of the not-for-profit South Texas CLI and Limb Salvage Club. They were joined by former McAllen mayor Jim Darling, Dr. Pedro Mego, McAllen Chief of Police Victor Rodriguez. Laura Warren of The Warren Group, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, Brenda Enriquez, President CEO of Mission Chamber of Commerce, Ruben Ramirez, Ellie Torres, Hidalgo County Commissioner, and other leaders who have agreed to support this 501c3 dedicated to education, the prevention of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and preventing the thousands of unnecessary amputations taking place in the RGV.
Cost of Amputation – Emotional. The people that go through a limb loss experience have significantly lower health status. According to 26-31 Studies, Leg Amputation prognosis estimates the 5-year mortality rate for people with an amputation to be between 50% and 74%.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) happens when blockages, like plaque and calcium, build up in blood vessel walls and narrow the arteries reducing blood flow to the legs and feet.
SIGNS OF PAD: Painful leg cramping, Leg numbness or burning sensations, Cold feet or toes, Dry and discolored skin, non-healing ulcers or wounds, and Tissue loss or gangrene.
PAD Risk Factors: Diabetes, four times increased risk for type-2 diabetics11, kidney disease: Physicians, through their practice, have learned that patients with low kidney function are twice as likely to have PAD13, High Cholesterol, Patients with low kidney function are twice as likely to have PAD13, and High Blood Pressure: Damages artery walls and may lead to disease.
How do we save limbs and save lives? Through education and community awareness.
PAD is the narrowing of the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the legs. According to studies, the symptoms depend on the location and severity of the blockages.
PAD is a Public Health Concern: The 2016 guidelines estimated that 3-12% of the population lives with PAD. Approx. 202M people live with PAD worldwide+. Approx. 8.5 million people in the US have PAD. They are increasing because of the aging US population, smoking, and increases in diabetes and obesity.
An estimated 185,000 amputations are performed in the US annually, approx. 14,120 were executed in Texas Hospitals in 2012.
From 2007 to 2012, the number of leg amputations in Texas increased by 15.6% (compared to the 8.4% in the rest of the US).
The event took place at the Palenque Grill restaurant located at 2200 S 10th St. McAllen, TX 78503-La Plaza Mall. Palenque Grill, the main sponsor. Photos by Noah Mangum Gonzalez
