What does PAD feel like in legs?
Painful cramping in one or both of your hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. Leg numbness or weakness. Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side. Sores on your toes, feet or legs that won’t heal.
Is PAD in legs serious?
Untreated PAD can lead to painful symptoms or loss of a leg, and people with PAD have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack. This is why the American Heart Association encourages people at risk to discuss PAD with their health care professional to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
What are the stages of PAD?
Classification Schemes
| Stage 0 | Asymptomatic |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Mild claudication |
| Stage 2 | Moderate claudication |
| Stage 3 | Severe claudication |
| Stage 4 | Rest pain |
What does poor circulation in the legs look like?
Symptoms of poor circulation are often easy to spot. They include muscle cramping, constant foot pain, and pain and throbbing in the arms and legs. As well as fatigue, varicose veins, and digestive issues. Leg cramps while walking and wounds that don’t seem to heal in your legs, feet, and toes are also symptoms.
Can I reverse peripheral artery disease?
There is no cure for PAD. Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, limiting fat and following a healthy diet, and managing your risk factors — such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure — can help to reduce the progression of the disease.
Can I live a long life with PAD?
You can still have a full, active lifestyle with peripheral artery disease, or PAD. The condition happens when plaque builds up in your arteries. This makes it harder for your arms, legs, head, and organs to get enough blood. Although it’s serious and can sometimes be painful, there are lots of ways to slow it down.