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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.