You feel leg pain and muscle cramping when you start your morning walk. You are also noticing that your feet are much colder.
If you’re experiencing both symptoms, it could point to a circulation issue, namely peripheral artery disease (PAD). In the United States, between 8 and 12 million people have PAD, which can turn into a serious cardiovascular disease.
While we’re not cardiovascular specialists at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle, our team includes foot, ankle, and lower limb experts who are often the first to identify peripheral artery disease. This early detection can make a significant difference in managing and slowing this potentially dangerous condition.
So, if you’re experiencing cramping and leg pain, as well as cold feet, please read on to learn more about PAD.
Under normal circumstances, your arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body. For people with PAD, plaques have built up along the walls of these blood vessels, which can compromise blood flow to your extremities. Plaques are often formed from excess fats and cholesterol, so a poor diet significantly contributes to PAD.
The resulting sluggish blood flow in your legs is what leads to the symptoms commonly associated with PAD.
PAD is progressive, and it’s often not until the arteries narrow by 60% or more that you might experience symptoms.
Usually, the first signs of PAD are leg pain and muscle cramping. This symptom typically starts intermittently, such as when you exercise and move around. As PAD progresses, even walking up a flight of stairs can lead to cramping and pain. In severe cases, you can experience leg pain at rest.
The compromised circulation to your lower limbs also leads to other side effects, such as:
You can experience symptoms of PAD in one or both legs, depending upon the plaque buildup in your peripheral arteries.
If your feet are much colder than usual or you have leg pain and muscle cramps, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our team.
After we review your symptoms and discuss your medical history, we can perform a simple test — Smart ABI ® — that measures the blood flow and blood pressure in your lower limbs. We get the results of this non-invasive test immediately.
As with any cardiovascular issue, early intervention is important, especially since PAD is progressive. Please don’t ignore any of the symptoms we describe above. Instead, contact one of our 18 locations in Tennessee to schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare providers.
