Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

PAD is characterized by blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the legs and is a warning sign that other arteries, including those in the heart and brain, may be blocked as well.

Thus, while PAD is known to cause leg muscle fatigue, cramping or pain when walking and lead to disability, amputation, or a poor quality of life, it is also associated with a high risk of heart attack and stroke.

New clinical research published in 2007 documented PAD's serious consequences. The international REACH registry evaluated cardiovascular outcomes in 68,000 individuals to define their risk. This registry demonstrated that one in five patients with PAD will have a heart attack or stroke, be hospitalized or die due to cardiovascular complications within one year. Patients with PAD had higher one-year death rates than patients who previously had a heart attack or stroke.

The survival rate for individuals with undetected peripheral arterial disease is worse than the outcome for many other serious diseases, including many common cancers.

Despite the grim statistics, PAD is often undiagnosed. By informing Americans about the seriousness of PAD and its risk factors and symptoms, we aim to reduce the burden of this devastating disease..

Who is at risk for PAD?

Everyone over 50 is at risk for PAD. However, your risk is increased if you:

Smoke, or used to smoke
Have diabetes
Have high blood pressure
Have abnormal blood cholesterol
Are African American
Have a personal history of coronary heart disease or stroke

The most common warning signs and symptoms of PAD include one or more of following:

Claudication, the symptom of fatigue, heaviness, tiredness or cramping in the leg muscles (calf, thigh or buttocks) that occurs during activity such as walking and that goes away when you rest.
Skin wounds or ulcers on the feet or toes that are slow to heal (or that do not heal for 8 to 12 weeks).

For almost half of affected individuals, PAD is a silent disease, causing no recognizable symptoms. Many individuals who do have leg muscle discomfort often think it is a natural part of aging and do not tell their health care provider.

Learn more at www.aboutpad.org