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National PAD Awareness Day Observance Due
GRAPHIC PAD

TheWaytoMyHeart.org, a national non-profit Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) patient advocacy group out of California, has announced that Feb. 19, 2022 will be the inaugural national “Red Sock Day” building awareness for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), its patients and treatment. The official proclamation was to take place Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 10 am CST.

PAD is a disease that affects over 12 million Americans. Left untreated, PAD can lead to resting leg pain, foot wounds that won’t heal, gangrene and even amputation. Yet the majority of cases go undiagnosed, in part due to low awareness and testing.

Kym McNicholas, who heads TheWaytoMyHeart.org explains the importance of the day’s designation.

“It was literally a vehicle to spread the word that leg and foot health is an important indicator of PAD and risk factors for heart attack, stroke and amputation. We are letting physicians and patients know that just taking two fingers and two seconds to check the foot pulses of a patient over 50 can make a huge difference in the early diagnosis and treatment of these life threatening diseases.”

McNicholas says the support for the day has been terrific and that patients and medical practices across the country have lined up to participate. Her organization has even designed custom socks in recognition of the big event. Modern Vascular, a national chain of endovascular clinics specializing in PAD treatment, led the list in sock orders, ordering PAD Awareness socks from TheWaytoMyHeart.org for over 300 employees to participate nationwide.

On Feb. 19, PAD patients and medical practices are all encouraged to wear bright red socks in support. Socks do not need to be special purchased for the non-profit, any red sock can be a show of support.

In addition to wearing red socks nationwide, the awareness organization is hosting a PAD conference virtually on that date with over a dozen physicians from across the country helping to spread the word and answering patient questions.