Wear your red socks on National Red Sock Day to help save a life and limb! Did you know leg health can indicate risk for heart attack, stroke, and amputation? One in five adults over the age of 60 have a condition called Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.), and many don’t even know they have it. National Red Sock Day on the Third Saturday in February raises awareness about P.A.D., its risk factors, and what you can do.

P.A.D. is caused by plaque build-up in the peripheral arteries, mainly the arteries in the legs. It is the most debilitating disease many people have never heard of, and yet, it is responsible for nearly 200,000 amputations annually. More than half of those amputations are preventable with early diagnosis and treatment.

P.A.D. Symptoms

• Leg pain
• Leg cramps
• Neuropathy
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Non-healing foot ulcers

Additionally, 3 in 5 heart attack sufferers have P.A.D. This is why National Red Sock Day takes place in February, which is also American Heart Month.

P.A.D. Risk Factors

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Hereditary

Diabetics are one of the highest risk groups with cases rising fast. More than half of American adults have Pre/Diabetes, and the most prevalent complication is vascular. In fact, 1 in 3 diabetics over 50 have P.A.D. However, the most horrifying aspect of this disease is that most people don’t know they have it until it reaches its advanced stages. P.A.D. can lead to heart attack, stroke, and amputation. Diagnosis and appropriate treatment in early stages can help keep life and a limb healthy longer.  Diagnosis involves checking leg pulses in patients over age 50.

National Red Sock Day aims to raise awareness and encourage a candid conversation between patients and their physicians to test sooner for P.A.D.

NATIONAL RED SOCK DAY HISTORY

The Way To My Heart founded National Red Sock Day in 2022 to raise awareness about P.A.D. and how early diagnosis can make a difference. Its mission is to support P.A.D. patients, caregivers, and providers through high-touch advocacy, education, and interaction. The organization offers numerous programs to support patients, from facilitating communication between patients and medical professionals to improving access to critical life and limb-saving resources. Its efforts are dramatically reducing healthcare costs by eliminating unnecessary amputation and improving patient outcomes.

Explore More…

• World Stroke Day
• World Diabetes Day
• World COPD Day
• National Wear Red Day
• National Teal Talk Day
• Epilepsy Awareness Day
• American Diabetes Association Alert Day
• Anosmia Awareness Day
• National Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
• American Hearth Month
• National Stroke Awareness Month
• National Blood Pressure Month
• National Wear Red Socks Day
• National Trisomy Awareness Month
• National Brain Injury Awareness Month
• National Nephrology Nurses Week
• National Kidney Health Month
• National Nutrition Month
• National Donor Day
• National Blood Pressure Education Month
• Nation Nutrition Month
• National Heart Month
• COPD Awareness Month
• National Mental Health Month
• National Fasting Month
• National Blood Donor Month
• National COPD Awareness Month

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL RED SOCK DAY

Wear your red socks on National Red Sock Day to help raise awareness about P.A.D. The red sock design symbolizes good circulation, keeping life and limb healthy. The blue toe and heel indicate how poor circulation in the feet can indicate risk for heart attack, stroke, and amputation. Help The Way To My Heart expand critical life and limb saving P.A.D. education, advocacy, and support by purchasing official P.A.D. Awareness Socks at www.TheWayToMyHeart.org/Red-Sock-Day

Have a conversation with your doctor about P.A.D. Make sure to report risk factors, including a history of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and smoking. If you need help explaining your symptoms, The Way to My Heart offers various resources to guide you.

Another way to participate is by donating to The Way to My Heart’s campaign. You can also follow The Way to My Heart on Facebook.

Also, please share the word on social media using #NationalRedSockDay to help raise awareness.