Feb 27, 2025
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Health
What is PAD?
More than 6 million people in the United States have peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, and its symptoms are subtle, so it’s important to educate yourself on this common but potentially dangerous condition.
If you feel pain when walking, but it improves with rest, you may have PAD — the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls that the “classic symptom.” You might not even feel leg pain — the CDC says four in 10 people with PAD don’t — but you might notice muscle atrophy, shiny skin and hair loss on your legs, and cool skin or cold, numb toes.
Treating PAD can involve medication, or in more serious cases, surgery.
If you’re worried about developing PAD, a few steps can help prevent it:
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Stop smoking.
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Make sure your blood pressure and diabetes are well managed.
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Get plenty of physical activity. A daily walk now could help save you from walking pain later.
What if you have achy legs now, or one of the other symptoms?
First, know your risk factors:
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Smoking
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High blood pressure
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Clogged arteries (atherosclerosis)
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Diabetes
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High cholesterol
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Age over 50
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If you think you might be at risk, you should get screened. Fortunately, the screening is simple and painless: an ankle-brachial index test, which measures the blood pressure in the ankles and compares it with the blood pressure in your arms at rest and after exercise. An ultrasound can also detect PAD.
For people with risk factors who are older than 55, free screenings are offered regularly at TidalHealth’s Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute by appointment. For information, visit tidalhealth.org or call to see if you qualify: 410-543-7123.
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