When arteries in your legs are narrowed or blocked, the muscles and tissues below don’t get enough oxygen-rich blood to function properly. That’s what happens with peripheral artery disease (PAD).
It’s a common condition — but while many people expect PAD to cause dramatic symptoms, the first sign is often subtle: leg pain when walking, or a heaviness or crampy feeling that goes away when you rest. This warning sign is called claudication, and it’s important to take it seriously.
That’s because the same artery-narrowing process that causes PAD can affect other arteries in your body, which may increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. The good news is that PAD is treatable.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute specialize in cardiovascular care in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey. We want patients to know that persistent leg pain isn’t something to shrug off, and here’s why.
PAD develops when the arteries that send blood from your heart to your legs become narrowed or blocked. The primary cause is atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty deposits (plaque), cholesterol, calcium, and other materials along artery walls.
Atherosclerosis is one of the most common types of heart disease. And when you have PAD, plaque builds up inside your arteries over time, gradually reducing blood flow and making it more difficult for your leg muscles to get the oxygen they need when you walk or exercise.
It’s important to note that plaque buildup doesn’t just affect your legs. The same condition can affect arteries that supply your heart or brain, and that means PAD is closely linked with other forms of vascular disease. People with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, a history of smoking, or prior heart disease are at higher risk.
One of the earliest and most common symptoms of PAD is leg discomfort during activity like walking or exercising. It can appear in your calves, thighs, or buttocks, and it usually starts when you’re moving and eases when you rest. You might notice:
Symptoms of PAD come and go, and it’s not uncommon to only experience them during activity. Many people dismiss this type of leg pain as just getting older or having sore muscles, but it’s important to pay attention to persistent or recurring discomfort, even if it’s mild.
The leg pain that PAD can cause isn’t just about your legs. If arteries in your legs are narrowing, chances are other arteries might be, too — and that overlap can increase your risk of serious complications like heart attack and stroke.
If you experience leg pain when walking or you notice changes in leg comfort, don’t wait. Our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute offers comprehensive consultations, where we review your symptoms, your risk factors, and your overall cardiovascular health.
We can order vascular testing — such as an ankle-brachial index, blood flow studies, or imaging — to check for narrowed arteries or reduced blood flow. Once we diagnose your condition, we work with you to create a customized treatment plan.
Depending on your specific needs, we may recommend a combination of lifestyle changes, exercise, medication, or interventional procedures. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors makes PAD more likely, so lowering those risk factors can reduce the chance of PAD progression and help protect your heart, too.
Don’t ignore leg discomfort. Once it’s diagnosed, PAD is manageable — and by acting early, you have the best opportunity to protect your legs, your heart, and your long-term health. Contact NJ Cardiovascular for an appointment, and we’ll help you find a path to stronger vascular health and peace of mind.
