Infographic: Are You at Risk for Peripheral Artery Disease?

Many people don't give aches in their legs a second thought. But when leg pain doesn't go away – or comes and goes – it could be a sign of peripheral artery disease or PAD.

This condition is treatable once you know you have it. Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, including limb loss.

Having PAD may also increase your risk of having other cardiovascular complications. These may lead to a heart attack or stroke. It's important to recognize these risk factors and symptoms of peripheral artery disease.

What is Peripheral Artery Disease?

Infographic Text: Are You at Risk for PAD?

• What is PAD?
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your extremities - usually in your legs. If you have PAD, you have a higher risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke.
• Approximately 8.5 million Americans over age of 40 have PAD
• 1 in 20 people over age 50 have PAD
• PAD Risk Factors
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Physical inactivity
  • Age
  • Personal or family history
• Smokers have a 4 times higher risk of PAD than non-smokers
  • The best way to lower your risk of PAD is to quit
• PAD symptoms
  • Cramping, pain, or tiredness in the legs when walking or climbing stairs
  • Pain usually goes away with rest and returns with activity
  • Pain may occur in calf, thigh, hip, or buttocks
  • Some people have no symptoms or mistake PAD symptoms for something else
• Why be screened for PAD?
  • PAD can affect quality of life if left untreated, and may even lead to limb loss.
  • Since PAD is due to a build-up of plaque inside one or more arteries in your legs (atherosclerosis), it may also indicate that you have blockage in other arteries that can result in heart attack or stroke.

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