(LifeWire) - Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects as many as one in five Americans older than age 65. It is linked to an alarmingly high risk of heart attack and stroke, but its symptoms are often dismissed as harmless.
In PAD, the arteries leading to the body's limbs become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup. This limits blood flow to some of the organs and to the arms, legs, hands and feet.
The first symptom of PAD is a painful cramping sensation in the hips, buttocks, thighs or calves that you feel when walking, running or climbing stairs. The cause? Not enough oxygen is being supplied to the muscles. Usually, the pain goes away when you rest.
This crucially important first symptom is sometimes considered just a harmless sign of aging or thought to be a symptom of another problem. One sign that the pain is from PAD is that it occurs in the muscles and returns regularly. Arthritis pain would occur in the joints, and a muscle injured from activity would soon begin to feel better.
If not quickly addressed, this symptom of PAD can progress into more severe symptoms, including:
- Leg pain that continues even when not exercising
- Wounds on the feet that heal very slowly or won't go away
- Noticeably cooler skin on your lower legs or feet compared to the upper body
Some people are at a greater risk for developing PAD than others. Those who smoke or have diabetes or high cholesterol should be especially aware of the signs of PAD.
Sources:
"Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)." americanheart.org. 2008. American Heart Association. 20 Nov. 2008 <http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3020242>.
