• Welcome to the Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.) information and support network!

    We are here to help you make informed decisions on your care and explore ways to manage this disease so you can live a better quality of life.

    It can be done!

  • What is Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.)

    Definition:

    P.A.D. is a narrowing of the arteries which occurs in the peripherals, mainly the legs, caused by plaque build-up.

    Symptoms:

    Symptoms include leg pain, leg cramps, tingling, neuropathy, skin discoloration, non-healing foot sores. Click HERE to check your symptoms.

    Risk Factors:

    Risk factors include age, heredity, diabetes, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure.

    Diagnosis:

    Some physicians may misdiagnose it as a symptom of aging, peripheral neuropathy, sciatica, even gout. It's important for a physician to rule out P.A.D. with symptoms of leg pain, tingling, numbness, cramping, discoloration.

    Testing:

    Your physician may order an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) test, which uses blood pressure cuffs to measure the blood pressure on your legs versus that of your arms or an artery ultrasound. An ABI test can offer a false normal result if your vessels are highly calcified and diabetic. If you are experiencing symptoms such as leg pain, leg cramps, numbness, tingling, or have a non-healing ulcer on your foot, ask for a follow-up ultrasound.

    Treatment:

    P.A.D. is treatable with medicine, walking, intervention, and surgery. A regimented walking program is frontline therapy as it accelerates your body's ability to expand a smaller network of vessels to re-route flow around narrowed arteries.

    P.A.D. Specialists:

    Your physician will send you to a P.A.D. Specialist. It can be either a Vascular Surgeon, Interventional Radiologist, Interventional Cardiologist, or Vascular Medicine doctor. Each practice and physician may have different tools and techniques they use to treat narrowed blood vessels. Each will tell you they 'treat P.A.D.,' but each may specialize in a specific area of the body or type of treatment, conservative (medicine/lifestyle modifications, minimally invasive (endovascular) or surgical (bypass/amputation). Before any procedure, it's important to get a second opinion to understand all available options.

    Prognosis:

    Caught early, P.A.D. is treatable to slow progression of disease. Left untreated, it could lead to heart attack, stroke, and amputation. The key is to understand your risk factors so you can seek early diagnosis and treatment.

  • Do you want to talk with someone about P.A.D?

    You are welcome to call our care team now!

    Our care team provides more resources and speaks with more P.A.D. patients and caregivers than any other organization in the world.

    1-415-320-7138

    or email to set-up a video chat!
    We provide real-time Support!

    • Do you have questions about symptoms?
    • Do you have questions about your diagnosis/treatment options?
    • Do you need help finding a frontline vascular specialist in your area or a second opinion?
    • Do you need help with diet, exercise, or smoking cessation?

    Don't wait! Call now for free support!

    If you get voicemail, leave a message and we will get back to you ASAP!

     

    P.A.D. is Peripheral Artery Disease, but when we stand with you in this journey, it transforms into:

    Perseverance Adaptability Determination

    We are with you every step of the way from diagnosis & treatment to long-term management.

     

    Know that you are not alone in this journey!

  • Not Sure if You Have PAD?

    The Global PAD Association is a Supporting Partner in the Get A Pulse On PAD Campaign, which offers this helpful video and a downloadable toolkit:

  • What Patients Say About Our Help!

  • P.A.D. Warrior Stories

    Real stories of perseverance written by fellow P.A.D Warriors

    The Way To My Heart is Recognized for Exemplary Peer Patient Group Management
    January 30, 2024
    How to Talk to Family About PAD Pain
    January 3, 2022
    How I Feel With Peripheral Artery Disease
    September 2, 2023
    From Wheelchair To Walking A Nurse Practitioner's P.A.D. Story
    January 2, 2022
    An African American Man With Peripheral Artery Disease is "Robbed of His Life!"
    June 6, 2023
    Leg-saving Second Opinion for P.A.D.
    May 6, 2022

  • "Save My Piggies" Podcast

    Host: Dr. John Phillips

    Save My Piggies is a podcast for patients by patients hosted by "Leg Saver" Dr. John Phillips. Patients share their stories of perseverance to inspire others who have Peripheral Artery Disease to always get a second opinion, to seek options beyond amputation, and to take their health into their own hands by making critical lifestyle modifications that could safe life & limb.

    Episode 1: Meet "Kim"

    How Kim saved her 'other' leg from amputation

    "If I were to do it all over again I wouldn't have settled for amputation. I would've gotten a second opinion."

    Episode 2: Meet "Derrick & Toni"

    Hear Derrick's Journey that took him from amputation at a large nearby hospital to an Office-Based Lab hours away where a highly skilled Interventional Cardiologist saved his foot.

     

    His wife, Toni, shares critical lessons learned along the way.

    Learn How Duke Avoided Amputation

    His doctors told him he made more money with amputation than with endovascular or bypass. So, he sought a second opinion.

    Don't Let Doctors Brush Off Your Symptoms

    Advocate for yourself and inspire your doctors to test for Peripheral Artery Disease if you experience leg pain or leg cramps.

  • Donate Now: Help us save life & limb.

    Every little bit helps! Thank you so much for your support! All donations are tax deductible!"The Way To My Heart" is a federal tax exempt 501(c)(3) EIN: 84-3065768

    Donate: Help The Way To My Heart Reduce Heart Attacks, Strokes & Amputation

    Donate: Help The Way To My Heart Reduce Heart Attacks, Strokes & Amputation

    $10.00 - $10,000.00
    Our mission is to democratize healthcare by educating, engaging, & empowering patients to take responsibility for their healthcare so they live a better quality of life. Outreach is through the Internet, caregivers, religious functions, retirement settings, corporate partnerships, and medical centers. We provide real-time, scalable, advocacy and support for patients with our wellness team. Your donation helps us save life & limb! Your donations are not used for overhead. Each penny goes directly to provide education, high-touch advocacy, and real-time support for patients. Donate to help patients with Peripheral Artery Disease patients, or to help patients at-risk of and with aneurysms in memory of our founder, Kym's mom, Marilyn Lou Baum McNicholas. Kym's mom passed unexpectedly when her physicians brushed off symptoms of a growing aneurysm. If the amount you see isn't designated, our system will allow you to customize using 'quantity' of each donation. If you want regular updates on how donations are used and their impact, please let us know in our notes section of your order. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us to save life & limb.
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  • The Heart of Innovation

    Weekly discussions About Vascular Health!

    What is Peripheral Artery Disease and Standard Treatment Protocols?
    June 28, 2023
    Deion Sanders courageously shared his struggles with a circulation issue that puts him at-risk of...
    Read more...
    What's Deion Sanders Suffering From?
    June 22, 2023
    Deion Sanders demonstrates immense courage by openly sharing his experiences of suffering from an...
    Read more...
    New Prosthesis for Everyone Initiative
    April 9, 2023
    April is Limb Difference Awareness Month so we are focusing on a big problem you may not be aware...
    Read more...
    More Posts

  • Has your doctor discussed AMPUTATION?

     Get a Second Opinion NOW!

    95% of P.A.D. & Diabetic Foot related amputations are preventable.

    Different doctors have different tools and techniques.
    Another physician may have a different limb saving approach.

    Get your case reviewed!

    Call our Leg Saver Hotline for an urgent second opinion!

    1-415-320-7138

    Need help navigating P.A.D. care?

    The Way To My Heart's care team provides free:

     

    Education: We help you to understand your diagnosis and treatment options. Physicians have a limited timeframe for consultations. We supplement the information they provide with answers to additional questions you may have about P.A.D. The Way To My Heart not only provides one-on-one support, but also online facilitated group support with other P.A.D. Warriors who share their experiences, as well as monthly new patient orientations, weekly physician and clinician Q&A's, quarterly virtual conferences and a monthly newsletter.

     

    Appointment preparation. We help you sort out your thoughts and experiences so you are prepared to maximize the 15 minute consultation with your vascular specialist. We also will work with you on a strategic set of questions to discuss with your doctor.

     

    Appointment Support. Have you ever gone into an appointment and forgotten all of what you hoped to address? Has a doctor offered treatment options that you weren't familiar with and weren't sure what to ask? We attend appointments with you via phone/video chat to ensure all of your questions are answered. We also have extensive experience observing treatments in Cath Labs around the world and can ask additional questions related to them so that you can make an informed decision about your options.

     

    Appointment Follow-up. We schedule a follow-up conversation with you and friends/family you choose to discuss your diagnosis and treatment options to ensure a comprehensive understanding. We also work with you on a strategy to comply with critical lifestyle modifications prescribed by your physician. Plus, we provide appointment reminders and help find a second opinion if necessary.

    To Learn More:

    Send us a message!

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