When your legs ache when you walk—especially if it goes away when you rest—you might be dealing with peripheral artery disease, a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your legs and arms. Also known as PAD, it’s not just discomfort; it’s a warning sign that your heart and blood vessels are under stress. This isn’t normal aging. It’s a signal that arteries elsewhere in your body could be narrowing too, raising your risk for heart attack or stroke.
PAD diagnosis starts with simple clues: cramping in your calves, thighs, or hips during activity, slow-healing sores on your feet, cold or numb legs, or weak pulses in your ankles. Doctors often check your ankle-brachial index (ABI), a non-invasive test that compares blood pressure in your ankle to your arm. If the numbers don’t match, it means blood flow is restricted. Other tests like ultrasound, CT scans, or angiograms can show exactly where and how badly arteries are blocked. These aren’t just paperwork—they’re tools that decide if you need medication, lifestyle changes, or surgery.
What makes PAD tricky is that many people ignore the symptoms. They think it’s just being out of shape, or arthritis, or getting older. But PAD doesn’t fix itself. Left untreated, it can lead to tissue death, amputation, or a major cardiovascular event. The good news? Catching it early means you can often reverse the damage with walking programs, quitting smoking, and managing cholesterol and blood pressure. You don’t need to be perfect—you just need to act.
Below, you’ll find real-world advice from people who’ve been there: how to recognize warning signs before they turn into emergencies, what tests actually tell your doctor, and how medications like cilostazol or statins help keep blood moving. You’ll also see how PAD connects to other conditions—like kidney problems from certain drugs, or how cholesterol meds can affect liver enzymes. This isn’t theory. It’s what works when your body is sending you signals you can’t afford to ignore.
Peripheral artery disease causes leg pain, slow-healing sores, and increases heart attack risk. Learn the key symptoms, how it's diagnosed with a simple ankle test, and proven treatments that work - from walking to medication.