It was a great day when Maryland native Janet Merica spoke up at her doctor’s office.
Initially, she went to her spine doctor because she was having low back pain. This led
her to the Heart Health Foundation (HHF) of Maryland and their flagship program called,
Dare to C.A.R.E.(Carotid Artery, Abdominal Aorta, Renal Artery, Extremity Artery
Disease).
When the people at HHF first met Janet, she could barely walk around the block
because of extreme leg pain due to peripheral artery disease (PAD). Today, her life is
very different and much better. Let’s learn more about Janet and her successful journey
to better health.
Janet’s Health History
Janet has a family history of both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and this
likely influenced her own risk factors for developing these conditions. 1 Sadly, she added
to her risk factors by becoming a heavy smoker and having an unhealthy diet. She also
developed Raynaud’s Syndrome, Sjogren’s Syndrome, and CREST Syndrome. Although
these conditions are different from one another, they all have symptoms that affect
mobility, pain, and fatigue levels. 2-4
Low back pain due to a bulging disc further affected her ability to get around and
perform her daily activities. It became increasingly difficult for Janet to exercise,
something she knew was critical in helping her manage her high blood pressure and
cholesterol.
How Janet Found the Heart Health Foundation
When she was 63, Janet went to her spine doctor because she was experiencing
extreme low back and leg pain. She’s a school bus driver who works 40 hours per week,
and her ability to do her job became increasingly difficult. Although Janet had been
having this pain off and on for at least 10 years, somehow, she says, this pain felt
different. “It felt like someone was stabbing me in the rear end.”
The initial recommendation from her doctor was to have spinal injections to help relieve
the pain. It was a good thing that Janet listened to her body and requested an x-ray,
because it indicated arterial blockages in both of her legs – a strong sign of PAD. Janet’s
spine doctor was knowledgeable of the HHF and referred her for an immediate
screening.
The no-cost sonogram at HHF on both of Janet’s legs indeed revealed PAD. In fact, she
only had 30% of the normal blood flow into each of her legs.
About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
It’s estimated that 6.5 million people in the US are living with PAD. 5 Although patients
with this disease might not have symptoms, they often experience leg pain when
walking, cramping in the arms, legs, and calves, and coldness in the lower legs or feet.
PAD is often caused by a build-up of fats and cholesterol in the artery walls that blocks
blood flow. Complications of PAD if not caught soon enough can lead to stroke, heart
attack, and amputation of affected limbs because of tissue ischemia (cell death). 6
Getting on the Right Path
Janet learned from her difficult experience and took the advice of the healthcare
professionals at HHF to heart. She quit smoking completely on the day of her surgery!
Her recovery has been excellent, and she returns to HHF every year for check-ups and
patient education about managing her health. Do you remember how she couldn’t even
walk around the block due to leg pain? Well, today she exercises regularly by traversing
the many nature trails close to her home – without leg pain. She also still works full-time
driving a school bus. Today, at 65, she’s a great example of someone who strives for
better health.
According to the American Heart Association, a healthy lifestyle that reduces the risk
of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular problems involves:
Lowering cholesterol and blood pressure
Having a healthy diet
Staying away from tobacco products
Improving well-being
Getting enough sleep 7,8
Janet’s Advice
We asked Janet if she had any advice for the rest of us about taking care of ourselves.
Her first recommendation is to never start smoking. Second, it’s important to listen to
our bodies. Being attentive to the type of pain we have and how we’re feeling helps us
communicate better with our doctors.
