Questions to Ask

Talk with your care team about peripheral artery disease (PAD), and heart and blood vessel disease – especially if you already have PAD or suspect you might have it. Here are some questions to help get you started:

• What is peripheral arterial disease (PAD)?
• I've heard peripheral artery disease (PAD) can be a red flag for heart disease. Is that a concern for me?
• What are the symptoms of PAD?
• Does having PAD increase my risk of having a heart attack or stroke?
• What causes PAD?
• How is PAD diagnosed?
• How is PAD followed and how often?
• What is the treatment for PAD?
• How can I prevent PAD if I don't have it yet?
• Are there lifestyle changes I should make if I have PAD?
• What steps can I take prevent or slow other arteries being affected?
• What tests do I need to assess my heart health and risk for stroke?
• What changes can I make to prevent heart problems or stroke?
• In addition to my blood pressure and cholesterol levels, what should I watch for?
• Do I need to try to lose weight? How much?
• Could medications help protect my heart?
• How often should my heart health be checked? What tests would you recommend?