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Signs & Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease causes the arteries to narrow, resulting in less blood flow to the extremities, such as the legs. It can also cause decreased blood flow to the heart and brain.

  1. Most Common Symptoms

    • The most common symptoms of peripheral artery disease are coldness in legs or feet, numbness in legs, hair loss in legs or feet. changes in leg skin color, sores that will not heal and cramping in hips, thighs and legs.

    Pain

    • If peripheral artery disease is allowed to progress it can lead to extreme pain when lying down or sleeping.

    Amputation

    • Because the vessels in the legs do not receive an adequate blood flow, the tissue can be damaged or die, which can necessitate amputation.

    Claudication

    • When walking or climbing stairs, patients may experience numbness, aching pain, heaviness or cramping one or both legs that is eased by resting. This is known as claudication.

    Toenails

    • A lack of growth and sometimes loss of toenails is a sign of peripheral artery disease. This is caused by the absence of blood flow to the feet.

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