What are the symptoms of PAD?
Pain in the muscles of the legs when walking. Called intermittent claudication (IC) this is the most-common early symptom of PAD. When you have arteries that are blocked by PAD, you can’t get enough extra blood to your muscles, so after walking for a few minutes, your legs may get tired, feel heavy, ache, or begin to hurt forcing you to stop. When you rest, the pain goes away, but it comes back after you walk again for a few more minutes. Mild claudication (IC) may seem like just a nuisance, but it can become very disabling.
Pain in the muscles of the legs even when you are resting. Called critical limb ischemia (CLI), this is considered severe PAD. Patients with CLI often have pain in their feet or toes. They can also develop ulcers or sores on their feet and ankles, which can progress to dead tissue, or gangrene. Untreated, patients with CLI can eventually lose a leg.
Many patients with PAD have no symptoms at all.
Who is at risk for PAD?
Women get peripheral artery disease, but it is more common in men. Risk increases with age. Other risk factors for PAD include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Family history
- Obesity