Leg pain may signal peripheral artery disease: dangerous if left untreated.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: HEALTH & MEDICINE - Peripheral artery disease

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As people age, it's not uncommon for aches and pains to develop in the body. And while sometimes these aches may just be the result of stiff muscles or a lack of movement, other times they can be signaling to the person that there is something wrong. This is the case with PAD, or peripheral artery disease, which left untreated, can potentially lead to limb loss. Patients who suffer from PAD also have a much higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

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"Peripheral artery disease is a very common disease in Americans over the age of 65," explained Chakri Inampudi, MD, a vascular and intervention radiologist for Alaska Radiology Associates, Providence Alaska and Imaging Associates of Providence. "The disease affects slightly more men than women and is often seen starting in patients ages 55 and up."

Peripheral artery disease, the most common form of peripheral vascular disease, can present with a number of symptoms, including cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Typically, this pain goes away with rest. According to the American Heart Association, about 8 million Americans have PAD, though its symptoms can often be mistaken for something else, and it often goes undiagnosed even by health care professionals.

"One of the problems with PAD is that most people are asymptomatic," Inampudi said. "The disease takes a while to develop, and as high as 70 percent to 80 percent of people who are affected are asymptomatic at any given point."

WALKING PAIN

PAD affects the arteries outside the heart and brain, and is most common in the arteries of the pelvis and legs. Similar to coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease, the most common cause of PAD is a hardening and narrowing of the arteries.

"The body can compensate for arteries narrowed up to 50 percent without showing symptoms," said Inampudi. Higher than 50 percent, and the blood vessels can still supply enough blood to muscles when a person is at rest, but can no longer provide enough blood to the muscles when a person is walking or moving. The muscles then release chemicals that cause pain. The most common complaint of people who have PAD is claudication, or pain in the calf, thigh or hip muscle that occurs after walking a certain distance. The pain stops after the person rests for a while.

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"As the disease progresses, a person will begin to feel 'rest pain,' Inampudi said...