Leg Pain When Walking? It Could Be Peripheral Artery Disease

What Is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)?

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a common circulatory problem where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your legs. It's often a sign of widespread arterial disease that affects the heart and brain too.

The Classic Symptom: Claudication

The most common symptom is leg pain when walking, called claudication:

• Pain, cramping, or fatigue in leg muscles during walking
• Usually in calves, but can affect thighs or buttocks
• Pain stops after a few minutes of rest
• Returns when you resume walking
• Can worsen over time, although the course varies

Other Symptoms

• Cold feet or legs
• Leg numbness or weakness
• Slow-healing sores on feet or legs
• Shiny skin on legs
• Hair loss on legs
• Weak pulse in legs or feet
• Erectile dysfunction in men

Why PAD Is Serious

PAD is more than just leg pain:

• Cardiovascular Risk: PAD is associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke; individual risk varies
• Limb Risk: Severe disease can progress to chronic limb-threatening ischemia
• Urgent Signs: A suddenly cold, painful, pale, or numb foot needs emergency assessment; call 112 in Kuwait
• Quality of Life: Limited walking ability affects daily activities

Risk Factors

1. Smoking (strongest risk factor)
2. Diabetes
3. High blood pressure
4. High cholesterol
5. Age over 50
6. Family history of PAD or heart disease
7. Obesity
8. Kidney disease

Diagnosis at Vascular Lab

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

A simple, painless test comparing blood pressure in your ankle to your arm. This is the primary screening tool for PAD.

Doppler Ultrasound

Shows blood flow in your leg arteries and can identify blockages or narrowing.

Segmental Pressures

Measures blood pressure at different levels of your legs to locate problem areas.

Treatment and Management

• Quit smoking (most important step)
• Exercise therapy (supervised walking programs)
• Medications for blood pressure and cholesterol
• Blood thinners if prescribed
• Good diabetes control
• Healthy diet

Get Tested at Vascular Lab Kuwait

If you experience leg pain when walking, arrange an appropriate clinical assessment. Dr. Ahmad Al Harbi offers PAD assessment at International Hospital when clinically indicated. Timely assessment can help guide cardiovascular risk management, walking and foot-care advice, and treatment. A suddenly cold, painful, pale, or numb foot needs emergency assessment; call 112 in Kuwait.

Schedule your ABI test today via WhatsApp.