Clotcast, NATF’s limited-series podcast, encourages open and ongoing dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals and empowers patients to be active participants in their care.
Welcome to Clotcast, Season 2: Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Moderated by Dr. Lee Kirksey, the Vice Chairman of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic, our latest podcast series is a comprehensive resource for those affected by PAD, including:
- Patients at risk for PAD
- People older than age 65 or individuals younger than age 65 with one cardiovascular risk factor (history of heart attack or stroke, diabetes, and former or current smoking)
- Patients who have been diagnosed with PAD
- Caregivers and family members who have a loved one with PAD
Latest Clotcast Episodes:
Stay tuned for Clotcast Season 2 episodes launching every Friday in September 2023!
Clotcast Season 2 Episode 1: What is PAD? – Drs. Lee Kirksey, Carlos Mena, and Jocelyn Beach talk about what PAD is, risk factors for PAD, signs/symptoms of PAD, and how PAD is diagnosed.
Clotcast Season 2 Episode 2: Treatment for PAD – Drs. Lee Kirksey and Gregory Piazza talk about the range of treatment options for PAD, including recommended lifestyle changes, supervised exercise programs, medications, and procedures.
Clotcast Season 2 Episode 3: Talking to Your Doctor about PAD – Drs. Lee Kirksey, Samir Shah, and Chloé Powell provide guidance on how to talk to your doctor or healthcare team about PAD.
Clotcast Season 2 Episode 4: Lifestyle and PAD – Drs. Lee Kirksey, Diane Treat-Jacobson, and Amy Pollak talk about practical changes you and your family can make to help prevent or manage PAD.
Clotcast Season 2 Episode 5: Life After a PAD Diagnosis – Mr. Gerald Cooper, a patient with PAD, joins Dr. Lee Kirksey and Debra Kohlman-Trigoboff, NP for a chat about navigating life after being diagnosed with a chronic illness.
Where Else to Listen to Clotcast:
You can also listen to & download episodes of Clotcast from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts!
About Clotcast Season 2: PAD
PAD is a condition that’s unknown to many, yet it affects more than 230 million people worldwide. In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that upward of 12 million people live with PAD, putting them at risk for serious complications.
PAD involves narrowing of the arteries that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. This narrowing, medically known as stenosis, impairs blood flow. PAD most commonly affects the lower half of the body (called lower extremity PAD) and occurs when plaques build up in artery walls. This plaque buildup narrows the passageways for blood flow, reducing the flow of blood to the legs and feet. PAD can occur with or without diabetes. When diabetes and PAD occur together, the risk of limb complications is significantly increased.
The risk factors for PAD include but are not limited to high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and smoking.
The incidence of PAD, meaning the number of new cases in a population at a defined point in time, is higher in Black and Hispanic Americans. Unfortunately, the risk of amputation is elevated in Black, Hispanic, Native American, and low-income patients of all races. In the most profound example of health disparities, the risk of amputation because of PAD is 2-4 times higher in Black men relative to White men. This finding is an unfortunate consequence of factors such as the social determinants of health and inequitable access to high-quality healthcare.
In this series, you’ll hear about:
- Risk factors for PAD
- Signs and symptoms of PAD
- Treatment options for PAD
- How to talk to your doctor or healthcare team about PAD
- Lifestyle changes to prevent and treat PAD
- How to navigate a PAD diagnosis and be an active participant in your care