4
HEALTH OUTLOOK
Take leg
pain to
Be sure to get it checked out
When a short walk becomes a painful exercise, it could
signal something called peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
PAD happens when leg arteries become clogged with fatty
deposits that limit or block blood flow. If you have PAD, you
probably have blocked arteries in other areas of your body
as well.
One of the most important things you need to know
about PAD is this: It’s a risk factor for heart attack and stroke
that shouldn’t be ignored.
What it feels like
Common symptoms of PAD include pain and cramping in
the leg muscles when walking. These symptoms can often
be relieved with rest.
PAD can also trigger sleep-disrupting pain in the feet or
legs and coldness in lower legs and feet. It can also make it
difficult for lower limb sores to heal, which increases the risk
of infections and tissue death (gangrene).
You’re most likely to develop PAD if:
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You’re older than 50.
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You’re African American.
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You smoke.
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You have diabetes; high blood pressure; high cholesterol;
or a family history of heart and blood vessel diseases,
including heart attack or stroke.
If you’re at risk for PAD or have symptoms, your doctor
may want to perform a simple, painless test called the ankle-
brachial index (ABI).
The test compares blood pressure in your legs to the
pressure in your arms to determine how well the blood is
flowing and whether further tests are needed.
Sources: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Society of Interventional Radiology
Pain in your legs can mean a
problem with your arteries—
and Dameron Hospital is
here to help with the latest
breakthrough technology
heart
Leg pain?
PERIPHERAL
artery disease (PAD) is
a common circulatory problem in which
plaque builds up inside the arteries in
your legs and obstructs blood flow to
the lower limbs and feet. It is one of the
most common cardiovascular diseases,
affecting 18 million Americans and
202 million people globally.
Patients who develop PAD usually
notice hip, leg or calf pain when walking.
This pain occurs because the peripheral
arteries are not able to deliver enough
blood flow to the surrounding muscles.