“If you have PAD, you have a risk of cardiovascular issues. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I expected it because I have severe atherosclerosis. That’s my PAD.”
That was how this week’s episode of Collateral Nation began.
But this time, Kevin wasn’t wearing his usual workout clothes.
He was wearing a hospital gown.
Instead of opening the show with our familiar message — walk, walk, walk — Kevin opened with something very different: get to your doctor and talk, talk, talk about your heart.
Kevin has lived with severe peripheral artery disease for decades. He understands this disease not just clinically, but personally.
He trains.
He walks.
He has built extensive collateral circulation.
And still, he recently suffered a heart attack.
That contrast is exactly why this episode matters — especially during American Heart Month.
Peripheral artery disease is not just a leg problem. It is systemic atherosclerosis. And when walking becomes harder, when endurance drops, when something feels “off,” that signal may not be coming from the legs at all.
It may be coming from the heart.
And when you live with chronic discomfort long enough, it becomes dangerously easy to normalize warning signs.
He symptoms progressed for months before he went to the emergency room.
“I started getting vascular heart symptoms of shortness of breath,” Kevin shared. “It was very minor. It got confused by a tooth problem… and then it became clear that I was heading for a heart attack. And I had one.”
The moment everything became undeniable came after a short walk.
“I went out to the car, walked about 100 feet, and I felt this pressure on my chest,” he said. “It was like someone sat on my chest.”
This time, he didn’t push through. He didn’t explain it away. He went straight to the emergency room — a decision that likely saved his life.
Doctors later discovered that one of his coronary arteries was 100 percent blocked and others were severely narrowed. Doctors told him they couldn’t place a stent. His heart attack and extent of disease ultimately required open-heart bypass surgery.
And yet, part of his heart muscle was still alive, supplied entirely by collateral vessels.
“My right heart is supplied completely from collaterals,” Kevin explained. “The coronary artery that supplies it is totally occluded.”
It was living proof of something we talk about often on Collateral Nation: collateral circulation matters — in the legs and in the heart. Walking matters. Movement matters.
But Kevin was also clear about something else.
“The risk of heart disease, if you have PAD, is real,” he said. “If you have any doubts whatsoever about cardiac function, I strongly recommend you get it checked out.”
That recommendation matters — especially because of what PAD does quietly over time.
Many people with PAD slow down for years before they are ever diagnosed. They adjust their pace. They avoid hills. They shorten walks. Without realizing it, they often lose cardiovascular conditioning.
Then comes the diagnosis. Then comes the instruction to “walk through the pain.”
Walking is medicine for PAD. We will never stop saying that. But walking is also a form of stress. And for patients who have not been able to challenge their heart for a long time, that stress must be introduced thoughtfully, with the heart evaluated and followed closely.
During the episode, I shared something that has stayed with me.
I’ve seen patients told to just keep pushing through pain, to just increase their steps, without anyone stopping to ask whether their heart had been adequately evaluated first.
In one case, a patient completed a stress test, walked out to the parking lot, and collapsed. He died of a massive heart attack despite normal stress test results.
That is why Kevin’s story matters.
Walking is therapy.
Walking is information.
And when walking becomes harder…when endurance drops, when shortness of breath appears, when something changes… that may be your heart asking for attention, not just your legs.
Kevin closed the episode the same way he opened it…with clarity and urgency.
“You can get really close to being dead and still be doing fine,” he said. “And then all of a sudden, you’re not.”
Get your heart checked!
Your legs pain could indicate your risk for a heart attack.
An Important Safety Note
If you or someone you love is experiencing chest pressure, shortness of breath, jaw pain, arm pain, dizziness, or symptoms that feel life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not delay care.
Calls to Action
• If you are living with PAD and struggling with walking, fatigue, shortness of breath, or unexplained symptoms, talk to your doctor about your heart risk — especially before and throughout a walking program.
• If you need help understanding PAD, treatment options, or when to seek further care, call the PAD Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347). Remember, the PAD Leg Saver Hotline is not an emergency service. We are here to help patients understand PAD, treatment options, and next steps, but emergencies require immediate medical attention.
• Join us for Collateral Nation each week, where patients, caregivers, and clinicians come together to share real experiences that save lives. Email info@PADhelp.org to get on the invite list.
This American Heart Month, remember:
If walking gets hard, don’t just look at your legs.
Listen to your heart.