Top 6 Peripheral Arterial Disease Symptoms Not to Ignore
Author: StrideCare Internal Team
We all experience various medical problems and health issues as we age. And for many people, it can be easy to delay going to the doctor if the symptoms appear to be minor or get better with time. That may work every once in a while, but if you or a family member have peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and don’t know it, ignoring even the tiniest of PAD symptoms can lead to serious complications that could threaten your life.
PAD, also referred to as arteriosclerosis of the extremities or peripheral vascular disease, affects approximately 8.5 million people in the United States. It is a condition that causes poor blood circulation to the kidneys, intestines, arms, legs, and feet—leading to tissue and nerve injury or damage.
The problem is that most people don’t know what PAD is and often mistake its symptoms for something else.
Causes of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Having a relative with a history of heart disease
- High blood pressure
Don’t Ignore These 6 Peripheral Arterial Disease Symptoms
The sluggish blood flow caused by PAD can progress from no symptoms at all to pain in one leg or both legs to different extents. If left unattended or undiagnosed, peripheral arterial disease symptoms can lead to a critical state of “no blood flow.” If this happens, the patient could be at risk for leg amputation.
Below are peripheral arterial disease symptoms you cannot ignore:
- Painful cramping in the legs or hips — This extremely common symptom occurs when walking or exercising and typically disappears when the person stops the activity. Patients may also experience burning or aching pain in their feet or toes when resting (typically at night) that may cause difficulty walking.
- A change in the appearance of extremities — Even if you aren’t experiencing any pain, there are noticeable changes in the appearance of your legs and feet to be mindful of. This includes color changes (pale or blue), loss of hair on legs, shiny skin, and a decrease in toenail growth.
- Open sores that don’t heal — Venous and Arterial (ischemic) ulcers come in all shapes, sizes, and severity and form on the lower extremities such as the legs, feet, toes, heels, and ankles. Both leg wounds take a considerable amount of time to heal. The difference is that venous ulcers develop because of damage to the veins, while arterial ulcers arise from artery damage.
- Erectile dysfunction in men — Believe it or not, but one of the many peripheral arterial disease symptoms for men is erectile dysfunction. This is particularly true for men who have diabetes.
- No pulse or weak pulse in legs and feet — As stated earlier, many patients who have PAD aren’t experiencing any pain. To confirm PAD in these instances, your doctor will check your pulses. Pulses show the strength of blood flow, so an absent or weak pulse in your extremities is one of the many PAD symptoms.
- Cold legs and feet — Poor circulation of blood can make your legs and feet noticeably colder than other body parts, such as your arms. If this is the case, you should seek medical help from a vascular specialist.
Ways to Prevent or Improve Peripheral Arterial Disease Symptoms
If you are concerned about your risk for PAD, here are a few ways to prevent or improve your peripheral arterial disease symptoms:
- Quit smoking
- Eat healthier to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Take the medication prescribed by your doctor
- Make and attend all doctor appointments
- Exercise regularly with doctor permission
Schedule an Appointment with StrideCare
If you have PAD, request an appointment with our specialists for an evaluation. We work with a wide variety of vein disorder patients. If you need PAD treatment, the experienced physicians at StrideCare will create an individualized plan to help you get the best results.
StrideCare doctors are board certified diagnostic radiologists with additional fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology. StrideCare has long been a leader in performing leading-edge procedures to treat arterial and venous disease such as diabetic vascular disease, critical limb ischemia, varicose veins, spider veins, restless leg syndrome, pelvic congestion syndrome, iliac vein stenosis and more—all the while providing compassionate patient care.
Request an appointment for a vascular disease evaluation to discuss your options.
Prior to starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
StrideCare serves the South Texas area including Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Round Rock, Bastrop, Brushy Creek, Cedar Park, Converse, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, Leander, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Pasadena, Pearland, Pflugerville, San Marcos, Schertz, Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Webster, Bay City, Clear Lake, Lake Jackson, The Woodlands, Universal City, Spring, Kingwood, Stafford, Conroe, Texas City, Cypress, League City, Bellaire, and more.
