When you were younger, as you began to exercise you would pick up speed and distance and your legs would carry you to your destination, without difficulty or challenge. Your breathing would quicken, your heart rate increase, and the lungs and heart would work together so that increased blood would circulate to the arteries and muscles of your legs. You would walk or run effortlessly, your dreams accomplished.
In some people, however, atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, restricts this blood flow. When your muscles don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need during exercise such as walking, you may experience a cramping discomfort called intermittent claudication or simply claudication. It is considered "intermittent" because the pain stops with rest.
This leg muscle fatigue, discomfort or pain is the primary symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a disease of the arteries beyond the heart. It most commonly affects the blood supply to the legs and results from clogged arteries. It is usually a sign that there is also atherosclerotic disease elsewhere in the body, such as the brain, heart or kidneys.
You can have PAD, a condition that has real dangers, even if you don't have any leg symptoms. Many people don't experience any leg muscle discomfort or intermittent claudication until the artery is blocked or occluded by 60 percent or more. Thus, during the years or even decades PAD is developing, you may be unaware of what's happening inside the arteries of your body. Even when you start to experience some symptoms, many people just assume these aches and pains in the leg muscles are a natural part of getting old.
However, when arteries are damaged by atherosclerosis in one site (such as the leg arteries), they're likely also damaged in other vital locations (such as the heart or brain). If a blood clot forms in a damaged artery to the heart or brain, an artery that has long been narrowed can suddenly close off completely, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
That's why people with PAD have an increased risk for both conditions. In fact, the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is six to seven times higher in those with PAD compared to those without.
While atherosclerosis is by far the most common cause of PAD, other causes include more unusual conditions caused by blood clots in your arteries, injury to your limbs, inflammation of the arteries due to other illnesses, or unusual inherited variations of the anatomy of your leg's ligaments or muscles.
By age 70, approximately 20 percent of people suffer from PAD. About half of people with PAD have mild or no symptoms. Inasmuch as only approximately one-third or one-fourth of individuals with PAD have recognized leg symptoms, it sometimes seems that PAD is less common. In other words, only one to two percent of those under age 60, three to four percent of people between 60 and 70, and five percent of those over age 70 have typical intermittent claudication. Nevertheless, PAD is very common and affects between 8 million and 12 million Americans.
Less than 5 percent of individuals with PAD will ever face a risk of amputation. But, while PAD is rarely so severe as to threaten the survival of the leg, PAD is the leading cause of amputation in people age 50 and over and accounts for 90 percent of amputations overall.
If you think you might have PAD, talk to your doctor about getting an accurate diagnosis. A number of simple, risk-free and inexpensive tests can accomplish this, as described below. Current national PAD care guidelines identify the high-risk groups that should be evaluated for PAD. You are in a high-risk group if you are over 70 years of age; or over 50 years old with known risk factors; or younger than 50 years old but with diabetes and risk factors.
In summary, your risk for PAD increases if you:
Are over age 50.
Smoke. Tobacco use is the single greatest cause of PAD. In fact, smokers are diagnosed with PAD as much as 10 years earlier on average than nonsmokers. People with PAD who smoke are also more likely to experience worse symptoms, to require leg bypass surgery and to undergo amputation or die from PAD-related complications.
Have diabetes. Diabetes is the second-greatest risk factor for PAD. Up to 75 to 80 percent of people with diabetes will die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease, and those with diabetes face an increased risk of amputation due to the development of PAD.
Have high blood pressure.
Have high cholesterol levels
Have coronary artery disease.
Have a family history of coronary artery disease or PAD.
Have high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in your blood.
In some people, however, atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, restricts this blood flow. When your muscles don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need during exercise such as walking, you may experience a cramping discomfort called intermittent claudication or simply claudication. It is considered "intermittent" because the pain stops with rest.
This leg muscle fatigue, discomfort or pain is the primary symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a disease of the arteries beyond the heart. It most commonly affects the blood supply to the legs and results from clogged arteries. It is usually a sign that there is also atherosclerotic disease elsewhere in the body, such as the brain, heart or kidneys.
You can have PAD, a condition that has real dangers, even if you don't have any leg symptoms. Many people don't experience any leg muscle discomfort or intermittent claudication until the artery is blocked or occluded by 60 percent or more. Thus, during the years or even decades PAD is developing, you may be unaware of what's happening inside the arteries of your body. Even when you start to experience some symptoms, many people just assume these aches and pains in the leg muscles are a natural part of getting old.
However, when arteries are damaged by atherosclerosis in one site (such as the leg arteries), they're likely also damaged in other vital locations (such as the heart or brain). If a blood clot forms in a damaged artery to the heart or brain, an artery that has long been narrowed can suddenly close off completely, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
That's why people with PAD have an increased risk for both conditions. In fact, the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is six to seven times higher in those with PAD compared to those without.
While atherosclerosis is by far the most common cause of PAD, other causes include more unusual conditions caused by blood clots in your arteries, injury to your limbs, inflammation of the arteries due to other illnesses, or unusual inherited variations of the anatomy of your leg's ligaments or muscles.
By age 70, approximately 20 percent of people suffer from PAD. About half of people with PAD have mild or no symptoms. Inasmuch as only approximately one-third or one-fourth of individuals with PAD have recognized leg symptoms, it sometimes seems that PAD is less common. In other words, only one to two percent of those under age 60, three to four percent of people between 60 and 70, and five percent of those over age 70 have typical intermittent claudication. Nevertheless, PAD is very common and affects between 8 million and 12 million Americans.
Less than 5 percent of individuals with PAD will ever face a risk of amputation. But, while PAD is rarely so severe as to threaten the survival of the leg, PAD is the leading cause of amputation in people age 50 and over and accounts for 90 percent of amputations overall.
If you think you might have PAD, talk to your doctor about getting an accurate diagnosis. A number of simple, risk-free and inexpensive tests can accomplish this, as described below. Current national PAD care guidelines identify the high-risk groups that should be evaluated for PAD. You are in a high-risk group if you are over 70 years of age; or over 50 years old with known risk factors; or younger than 50 years old but with diabetes and risk factors.
In summary, your risk for PAD increases if you:
Are over age 50.
Smoke. Tobacco use is the single greatest cause of PAD. In fact, smokers are diagnosed with PAD as much as 10 years earlier on average than nonsmokers. People with PAD who smoke are also more likely to experience worse symptoms, to require leg bypass surgery and to undergo amputation or die from PAD-related complications.
Have diabetes. Diabetes is the second-greatest risk factor for PAD. Up to 75 to 80 percent of people with diabetes will die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease, and those with diabetes face an increased risk of amputation due to the development of PAD.
Have high blood pressure.
Have high cholesterol levels
Have coronary artery disease.
Have a family history of coronary artery disease or PAD.
Have high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in your blood.
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