Show co-host Kym McNicholas surprises co-host Dr. John Phillips with a live thank you from a patient after saving her limb and her sister's life. You don't want to miss the story these two sisters share of their fight against genetics and the lessons both physicians and patients need to learn in order to prevent heart disease and peripheral artery disease from reaching advanced stages where heart attack, stroke, and amputation are imminent.
We were live ahead of the The African American Male Wellness Agency Walk in Los Angeles talking to their director Jhade Barnes to talk about the need to improve access and care for African American Men. Since 2004, The AAMW agency has produced a 5K Walk & Run (The Walk) in over 15 cities as an awareness campaign to spotlight the fact that Black Men get Peripheral Artery Disease and Diabetes related amputations at 4x that of their white counterparts and die on average 12 years earlier than their white counterparts. They have incredible partners such as Johnson & Johnson and The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson that provide free testing and information to help Black men live longer from preventable diseases like PAD. This year The Way To My Heart, EZ Care Link, and Philips Healthcare had the opportunity to provide support for this wonderful mission! Celebrity fitness trainer Dion Jackson was also at the event to help inspire better health through exercise.
Salih Hendricks was diagnosed with diabetes as a teen and no one warned him of the potential for vascular complications that comes with an imbalance of sugar in the bloodstream. He shares his personal experience with diabetes, which includes facing challenges such as the rupture of blood vessels behind his eyes, which nearly caused him to lose his vision, as well as the amputation of his leg due to the accumulation of plaque in his leg arteries, restricting blood flow to his foot. Salih has transformed the lessons he learned along his journey into a life purpose, dedicated to assisting others who are also afflicted by diabetes and associated artery issues. His aim is to provide support and guidance to those who face similar struggles.