Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries that is most common in the arteries of the legs and pelvis. PAD is caused by narrowed and blocked arteries located in various critical regions of the body.
Quick Facts about PAD From the American Heart Association
The most common symptoms of PAD are cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Typically, this pain goes away with rest and returns when you walk again.
Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms From the Mayo Clinic
While many people with peripheral artery disease have mild or no symptoms, some people have leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication). Intermittent claudication symptoms include muscle pain or cramping in your legs or arms that's triggered by activity, such as walking, but disappears after a few minutes of rest. The location of the pain depends on the location of the clogged or narrowed artery. Calf pain is most common. The severity of intermittent claudication varies widely, from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. Severe intermittent claudication can make it hard for you to walk or do other types of physical activity.
Peripheral artery disease symptoms include:
If peripheral artery disease progresses, pain may even occur when you're at rest or when you're lying down (ischemic rest pain). It may be intense enough to disrupt sleep. Hanging your legs over the edge of your bed or walking around your room may temporarily relieve the pain
When to see a doctor
If you have leg pain, numbness or other symptoms, don't dismiss them as a normal part of aging. Call HealthFair and make an appointment.
Even if you don't have symptoms of peripheral artery disease, you may need to be screened if you are:
Under age 50 but have diabetes and other peripheral artery disease risk factors, such as obesity or high blood pressure