Health Conditions

What are the symptoms?

Approximately 75% of individuals affected by PAD either have no symptoms or mistake the symptoms for something else, such as arthritis pain. The majority of symptoms of PAD are caused by a decrease in blood flow and oxygen delivery to the limbs.

Oxygen is brought to the muscles by blood traveling through blood vessels. During exercise, such as walking, running, or climbing stairs, muscles need more oxygen. In PAD, when the blood vessel is partially blocked by plaque, blood flow and therefore oxygen delivery to the muscle is decreased. This reduction of oxygen leads to intermittent claudication, which is a painful or cramping sensation in the legs or hips while exercising. The pain typically goes away with rest because the muscles no longer need extra oxygen. However, people with advanced PAD sometimes do experience pain at rest. This is known as critical limb ischemia and is due to a complete or near complete blockage of the artieries. This resting pain is most often felt in the feet (especially the heels and toes) when lying in bed at night.

Intermittent claudication is the most common symptom of PAD. Other serious signs and symptoms of PAD include:

• A weak or absent pulse in the legs or feet
• Sores or wounds on the legs, feet, or toes that heal poorly or do not heal at all
• Numbness in the legs or feet
• Inability to walk normally
• Changes in the color of skin, such as turning pale or blue
• One leg that is ?cool to the touch? when compared to the other leg
• Poor nail growth or decreased hair growth on the legs or feet
• Erectile dysfunction?the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for sexual intercourse?in men, especially in those with diabetes

In extreme cases of PAD, gangrene--the death of body tissues--can develop and may require amputation of the affected limb. However, this happens in very severe cases of PAD and is not a common occurrence.