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Does leg pain slow you down?
Peripheral arterial disease — or PAD — could be the cause. Watch this short video to learn more, and take a screening assessment of your risk for PAD.
Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. PAD describes blocked arteries outside of the heart. It is a buildup of plaque in the walls of arteries, which limits or stops the flow of blood to your limbs. PAD is most commonly seen in the legs.
Could PAD be the cause of your discomfort?
If blood cannot reach your feet, it may cause pain while walking, and cause damage to the skin and muscles in your legs and feet. PAD also puts you at greater risk of stroke or heart attack.1,2
50%
Up to 50% have no recognized symptoms and may progress right to severe disease.1,4
Have your doctor check your feet for signs of PAD. If PAD is suspected, you may be referred to a specialist for further assessment.
The goal with PAD treatment is to return the flow of blood to the legs and feet. Your doctor will determine what treatment options are best for you.
Artery before and after treatment
Hirsch AT, Murphy TP, Lovell MB, et al. Gaps in public knowledge of peripheral arterial disease: the first national PAD public awareness survey. Circulation. October 30, 2007;116(18):2086–2094.
Hussein AA, Uno K, Wolski K, et al. Peripheral arterial disease and progression of coronary atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. March 8, 2011;57(10):1220–1225.
Goodney PP, Tarulli M, Faerber AE, Schanzer A, Zwolak RM. Fifteen-year trends in lower limb amputation, revascularization, and preventive measures among Medicare patients. JAMA Surg. January 2015;150(1):84–86.
Nehler MR, Duval S, Diao L, et al. Epidemiology of peripheral arterial disease and critical limb ischemia in an insured national population. J Vasc Surg. September 2014;60(3):686–695.e2.
Goodney PP, Travis LL, Nallamothu BK, et al. Variation in the use of lower extremity vascular procedures for critical limb ischemia. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. January 2012;5(1):94–102.
Falluji N, Mukherjee D. Critical and acute limb ischemia: an overview. Angiology. February 2014;65(2):137–146.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Mayo Clinic. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-artery-disease/symptoms-causes/dxc-20167421. Accessed February 22, 2022.
McDermott MM, Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, et al. Asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease is associated with more adverse lower extremity characteristics than intermittent claudication. Circulation. May 13, 2008;117(19):2484–2491.