Peripheral artery disease, PAD, is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries. It occurs most commonly in the legs, but also appears in the stomach, arms, and head. PAD is similar to coronary artery disease, CAD.
Both PAD and CAD are caused by atherosclerosis which narrows and blocks arteries in various critical regions of the body. The most common symptoms of PAD in the lower extremities are cramping, pain, or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. This pain usually goes away with rest. Other risk factors include smoking, diabetes, and family history. Your cardiologist can help you come up with a plan to manage your Peripheral Artery Disease, but this requires the patient to make a major commitment to better overall health.