Myths are circulating that getting older is the sole cause of countless varieties of aches and pains. Nothing to be done, as they say as it is a “normal part of aging.”

Take painful cramping in the legs or hips while walking; or numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs, for example. These symptoms are often dismissed by seniors, but could be the sign of peripheral vascular disease, or PVD, a condition in which the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs have become narrowed or clogged causing interference with the normal flow of blood.

There are other symptoms of PVD as well, including severe cases that may cause burning or aching pain in the foot or toes while resting, or the development of a sore on the leg or foot that doesn’t heal, said Dr. Robert Cambria, Vascular Care of Maine.

“In these advanced cases, people may notice a loss of hair on the leg, or reddish discoloration of the foot,” he added.

If you have PVD, you are also at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Unfortunately, the disease often goes undiagnosed because many people do not experience symptoms in the early stages of PVD or they mistakenly think the symptoms are caused by getting older. This is a common condition among people past age 50 particularly in those with risk factors for vascular disease, including:

. Smoking.

. Diabetes.

. High blood pressure or high cholesterol.

. A family history of heart or vascular disease.

. Overweight or sedentary lifestyle.

So just how is a PVD diagnosis made?

“The ankle-brachial index is the most common test,” said Cambria. “This is a painless exam in which ultrasound is used to measure the ratio of blood pressure in the feet and arms. The blood pressure in your arms and ankles is checked using a blood pressure cuff and a special ultrasound stethoscope called a Doppler. The pressure in your foot is compared to the pressure in your arm to determine how well your blood is flowing and whether further tests are needed.

“Once we have this information, decisions regarding treatments can be made,” Cambria added. “Most commonly, PVD and associated heart disease can be managed with lifestyle modifications, including smoking cessation, a healthy diet and an exercise program.

“These measures frequently improve symptoms with walking,” he said. “Sometimes medication to lower cholesterol, or aspirin, will be recommended. Treatments aimed at improving the circulation are only necessary for those with advanced symptoms, severely limiting the ability to walk or threatening the viability of the limb. In these cases, blocked arteries can be reopened or bypassed when necessary.”

If you are experiencing symptoms or have any of the risk factors noted above, it is a good idea to be screened. And there has never been a better time to do it.

Vascular Care of Maine will offer free screenings for peripheral vascular disease as part of the national Legs For Life program, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23. The ultimate goal is to improve people’s cardiovascular health.

The screenings will be done at Vascular Care of Maine, second floor of Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Outpatient Surgery building, and are by appointment only. It is first come, first served, so call 973-8193 to reserve your slot. Each screening takes about 10 minutes, and best of all it is painless. It doesn’t seem like a lot of time to spend, but literally this 10 minutes could save your life.

Grab your pooch. The Animal Orphanage is giving dog lovers a chance to show off their canines at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at the YMCA in Old Town. The Fun Dog show, with 15 categories including best dressed, will take place rain or shine. Each category is a mere $1 to enter. There will be refreshments for sale, such as hot dogs (no pun intended.) The Blessing of the Animals is free of charge and starts at noon.

Call 827-8777 for more information.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at EAA. For more information, call 941-2865, log on www.eaaa.org, or e-mail us at info@eaaa.org.