Peripheral Arterial Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Walking pain, atypical symptoms or no pain may occur. PAD differs from varicose veins and warrants circulatory and vascular-risk assessment even with mild symptoms.

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Leg pain or heaviness during walking may ease with rest. Coldness, discoloration or slow-healing wounds can occur; rest pain and ulcers suggest more severe disease.

Atherosclerotic plaque is the usual cause. Smoking, diabetes, hypertension and abnormal cholesterol promote arterial damage; evaluation can identify less common causes.

Smoking, diabetes, age, kidney disease, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol and family vascular history increase risk. Combined risks warrant particular attention to prevention and symptomatic assessment.

Assessment includes pulses, foot examination and ankle–brachial pressure measurements. Toe pressures, Doppler ultrasound or arterial imaging may be needed. The ankle–brachial index is a diagnostic test, not treatment.

Care combines smoking cessation, vascular-risk control, statins, individualized antithrombotic therapy and suitable structured exercise. Selected cases need endovascular or surgical revascularization. Cilostazol is unsuitable in heart failure.

Advanced disease can cause ulcers, infection, tissue loss or amputation. Cardiovascular and stroke risks also rise; treatment protects both limb health and overall circulation.

Inspect feet and wounds daily, particularly with diabetes, and follow the agreed activity plan. Do not begin aspirin or anticoagulation without a bleeding-risk assessment.