The Heart of Innovation with Kym McNicholas

What if your body has been trying to tell you something important, but you've been missing the clues? Fatigue, pain, digestive issues, changes in energy, and other symptoms can leave us searching for answers. But how do we know which signals deserve attention, and what questions should we be asking? On The Heart of Innovation, Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips welcome nurse practitioner, patient advocate, and newly published author Deidre Arms, NP, whose book, "Your Body Is Trying to Save You," reached #1 on Amazon's Hot New Releases list in Doctor-Patient Relations within just 24 hours! Deidre believes patients can become more empowered participants in their healthcare by learning to recognize patterns, ask better questions, and work with their clinicians to connect the dots. Together, we'll explore: What your body may be trying to communicate through symptoms Why understanding patterns can be important when searching for answers How to become a more informed and empowered patient What inspired Deidre to write "Your Body Is Trying to Save You" Practical ways to listen, learn, and take action Whether you're managing a chronic condition, searching for answers to unexplained symptoms, or simply trying to be more proactive about your health, this is a conversation worth watching. JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Have you ever experienced symptoms that were initially dismissed or misunderstood? What helped you finally get answers? Share your experience in the comments! ABOUT THE HEART OF INNOVATION Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and Global PAD Association CEO Kym McNicholas and vascular specialist Dr. John Phillips, The Heart of Innovation explores the people, ideas, and breakthroughs transforming healthcare and empowering patients. CONNECT WITH THE GLOBAL PAD ASSOCIATION Patient Support & Limb-Saving Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS Patient Resources: https://padhelp.org Join Our Patient Support Community: https://padsupportgroup.org Explore Clinical Trials: https://PADtrials.org Share Your PAD Experience Through Our Patient Registry: https://PADpatientRegistry.org Subscribe for more patient-centered conversations:    / @thewaytomyheart   Educational content only. This conversation is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. #YourBodyIsTryingToSaveYou #DeidreArms #TheHeartOfInnovation #PatientAdvocacy #PatientEmpowerment #HealthEducation #GlobalPADAssociation

Halloween doesn't have to be a choice between fun and healthy eating. Join Chef Eric and me as we show you how to make a healthier Halloween candy that's full of flavor, satisfies your sweet tooth, and is made with ingredients you can actually feel good about sharing with your family. Whether you're living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, or you're simply trying to make healthier choices, this recipe proves you don't have to give up your favorite holiday traditions. At PADdy's Plate, our goal is simple: take the foods people already love and give them a healthier twist without sacrificing taste. Because eating for better heart health shouldn't feel like a punishment. It should be something you look forward to. In this episode, Chef Eric shares easy ingredient swaps, simple preparation tips, and a delicious homemade treat that's perfect for Halloween parties, trick-or-treat night, or whenever you're craving something sweet. You may never look at Halloween candy the same way again. If you enjoy this recipe: 👍 Like this video 💬 Tell us in the comments: What's your favorite Halloween candy, and what holiday recipe would you like Chef Eric to make healthier next? 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a new episode of PADdy's Plate, The Heart of Innovation, Collateral Nation, and all of our Global PAD Association programming. Need help with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), poor circulation, or you've been told amputation may be your only option? 📞 Call the Global PAD Association Leg Saver Hotline 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) 🌐 Learn more at: www.PADHelp.org Thanks for cooking with us. We'll see you in the kitchen for the next artery-friendly recipe! #PADdysPlate #HealthyHalloween #HalloweenCandy #HealthyDessert #HeartHealthyRecipes #HealthyTreats #PeripheralArteryDisease #HeartHealth #HealthyCooking #CleanEating #BetterChoices #GlobalPADAssociation #ChefEric #HealthyLifestyle #HalloweenRecipes

If you or a loved one have a severe, non-healing wound, a doctor might recommend a Wound Vac (also known as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy or NPWT). But how does a wound vac actually work, and why can it sometimes be painful? In this video, hosts Kim Cantwell-Opazo and Dr. Michael Devine break down everything you need to know about negative pressure wound therapy with guest surgeons Dr. Brett Freedman and Dr. Michael Schuler from Clear Choice Therapeutics. You'll learn how traditional wound vacs use black foam under suction, why high suction pressure can sometimes push down on the wound and reduce blood flow (the "Perfusion Paradox"), and how new clear, polymer-based dressings like PREVENT™ are changing wound care to make healing faster, cleaner, and much less painful! 💡 What You'll Learn: What is a Wound Vac? How suction helps pull fluid away and close deep wounds. The Blood Flow Danger: How high suction with traditional black foam can act like a tourniquet and cut off blood circulation to fragile tissue. Pain & Odor Concerns: Why traditional foam causes pain during dressing changes (tissue growing into foam) and how new clear dressings prevent it. Advancements in Healing: How lower suction and clear materials help doctors see the wound without taking the bandage off. PAD Support Hotline: Call our dedicated support line at 1-833-PAD-LEGS  to speak with a specialist about peripheral artery disease, limb salvage, and wound care options. Join the Patient Registry: Help us advance care and save limbs by enrolling in our registry: PADpatientRegistry.org Explore Clinical Trials: Find active clinical trials for PAD and advanced wound care at PADtrials.org Start Walking for Health: Take control of your vascular health today with our structured exercise initiative at https://padwalkingprogram.org #WoundCare #LimbSalvage #PeripheralArteryDisease #NPWT #WoundVac #MedicalInnovation #VascularHealth #DrMichaelDevine #HeartOfInnovation

What does "standard hospital care" actually mean? What rights do you have as a patient? And what should you know before you or someone you love is discharged or transferred from a hospital? I'm joined by Gayle Nash, President and CEO of Nash Healthcare Consulting, to take us behind the scenes of the hospital system and explain things most patients and families are never taught. Gayle brings decades of experience in healthcare. She began her career as a nurse, went on to serve in hospital leadership as a Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Quality Officer, spent 13 years as a Joint Commission nurse surveyor, and has experience surveying for CMS. Today, she works with hospitals and healthcare organizations preparing for accreditation surveys. We talk about: • What hospital accreditation actually means • What The Joint Commission Gold Seal does and does not tell you • How accreditation relates to Medicare requirements • What surveyors look at inside a hospital • What "standard of care" means from a hospital quality and compliance perspective • Patient rights inside the hospital • Healthcare Power of Attorney, advance directives, living wills and POLST/MOST forms • What patients and families should understand about discharge planning • Transfers to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, nursing homes or home • What to do when you don't believe a discharge or transfer plan is safe • Who to talk to inside the hospital when you have concerns • Patient Relations, Quality, Risk Management, case management and ethics • What patients and caregivers can do before a problem happens Gayle also shares experiences from her years in nursing and hospital quality that help connect all of those rules and regulations back to the person who matters most: the patient. My goal with this conversation is simple. I want patients and families to better understand how hospitals work, what questions they can ask, and how to advocate for themselves when they're making difficult decisions. Need help navigating Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or facing a possible amputation? Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS Subscribe to @TheWayToMyHeart for more conversations focused on helping patients become better informed and better advocates for their care. #PatientRights #HospitalCare #PatientAdvocacy #HospitalDischarge #Healthcare #Medicare #JointCommission #AdvanceDirective #PowerOfAttorney #PatientSafety

What do you do when your doctors tell you to "just lose weight and walk"… but don't tell you how? In this episode of The Heart of Innovation, Dr. John Phillips and I welcome Larry Dewdad, a lifelong entertainer, comedian, trade show speaker, and television personality, who found himself facing a challenge millions living with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) know all too well. Leg pain. Cramping. Poor circulation. Neuropathy. Cold feet. Walking that became harder every single week. At one point, it took Larry 16 minutes just to walk around his block. Instead of giving up, he developed his own personal training program. What makes his story so fascinating is that, without realizing it, much of what he figured out aligns with today's supervised exercise therapy (SET) and PAD walking guidelines designed to stimulate the growth of natural bypass arteries, known as collateral circulation. Today, Larry is walking farther, walking faster, and has lost weight along the way. In this conversation, we discuss: ✔ How Larry built his walking program from scratch ✔ Why pushing through claudication pain (safely) matters for many PAD patients ✔ How the body can develop natural bypass arteries through collateral circulation ✔ The role of weight loss in improving mobility and overall health ✔ Why consistency beats intensity ✔ Practical tips anyone with PAD can begin discussing with their healthcare team If you've been told there's "nothing else you can do," or you've wondered whether exercise can really improve circulation, Larry's story may change the way you think about living with Peripheral Artery Disease. If you or someone you love has PAD, don't face it alone. ☎ Call the Global PAD Association's Leg Saver Hotline for education, support, and help finding specialists: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347) 🔬 Looking for the latest clinical trials? Visit: https://www.padtrials.org 🚶 Ready to start a structured PAD walking program? Join the Global PAD Association's free PAD Walking Program: https://www.thewaytomyheart.org/pad-walking-program ❤️ Subscribe for more conversations with the innovators, physicians, researchers, and patients changing the future of cardiovascular care: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWayToMyHeart If Larry's journey inspired you, please: 👍 Like this video 💬 Share your experience in the comments 📤 Share this episode with someone struggling to walk because of PAD 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode. #PeripheralArteryDisease #PAD #LegPain #PoorCirculation #WalkingProgram #PADAwareness #CollateralCirculation #HeartHealth #PeripheralArterialDisease #VascularHealth #Claudication #ExerciseMedicine #WeightLoss #HeartOfInnovation #TheWayToMyHeart