When your legs feel heavy, cramp up while walking, or just won’t cooperate like they used to, it might not be aging—it could be peripheral artery disease, a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, often caused by plaque buildup. Also known as PAD, this isn’t just discomfort—it’s a warning sign your heart and blood vessels are under stress. Many people ignore the early signs, thinking it’s just getting older or out of shape. But PAD is serious. Left untreated, it can lead to tissue death, amputation, or even a heart attack or stroke.
PAD diagnosis starts with recognizing the most common symptom: claudication, pain or cramping in the legs that happens during activity and goes away with rest. It’s not a random ache—it’s predictable. You walk a block, your calf burns, you stop, the pain fades, you walk again, and it comes back. That’s the classic pattern. Doctors also check for weak pulses in your feet, cool skin, or sores that won’t heal. Simple tests like the ankle-brachial index (ABI), a non-invasive test comparing blood pressure in your ankle to your arm can confirm if blood flow is restricted. If it’s low, you might need ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans to see exactly where the blockages are.
PAD rarely shows up alone. It’s often tied to other conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. If you’re over 50 and smoke—or over 65, even if you don’t—the risk goes up fast. The good news? Catching PAD early means you can slow or even reverse it with lifestyle changes, medication, or simple procedures. You don’t need to wait for pain to become unbearable. The posts below break down exactly how PAD is diagnosed, what tests actually tell you, how it connects to other conditions like kidney disease or hypertension, and what steps you can take right now to protect yourself. Whether you’re worried about leg pain, have been told your ABI is low, or just want to understand what’s really going on with your circulation, you’ll find clear, no-fluff answers here.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) causes leg pain, poor circulation, and raises heart attack risk. Learn the real symptoms, how it's diagnosed with ABI tests, and proven treatments to avoid amputation and save your life.
