Peripheral Artery Disease: The Overlooked Form of Heart Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects millions of Americans, yet it remains one of the most underdiagnosed forms of cardiovascular disease.
PAD occurs when arteries supplying blood to the legs become narrowed or blocked, reducing circulation. It is caused by the same disease process responsible for heart attacks, but its symptoms often appear in the legs first.

Common Signs of PAD

PAD doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Symptoms may include:

• Cramping or pain in the calves, thighs, or hips when walking
  
  
• Fatigue or heaviness in the legs
  
  
• Cold feet or toes
  
  
• Slow-healing sores on the legs or feet
  
  

Some people have no pain at all, making PAD especially dangerous.

Why PAD Is So Serious

PAD is more than a leg condition. It significantly increases the risk of:

• Heart attack
  
  
• Stroke
  
  
• Infection
  
  
• Amputation
  
  

Many patients are diagnosed only after a wound appears or circulation becomes critically compromised.

Early Diagnosis Changes Outcomes

When PAD is identified early, treatment can:

• Improve walking ability
  
  
• Reduce pain
  
  
• Promote wound healing
  
  
• Lower cardiovascular risk
  
  

Ignoring symptoms delays care—and increases complications.

The Takeaway

Leg pain is not “just part of getting older.” During Heart Month, remember that PAD is heart disease showing up in the legs—and early attention matters.