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

• What a PAD care team looks like

• Managing mental health and physical health after a PAD diagnosis

About 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.