Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral Artery Disease

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

While many patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, about one in 10 experiences painful cramping or fatigue in the legs, hip, thigh or calf muscles after walking or climbing stairs, which is relieved by a short period of rest. This condition is called intermittent claudication.

Other symptoms include:

• Change in the color of the legs
• Changes in the toenails
• Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially compared to the other leg
• Hair loss on the feet and legs
• Leg numbness or weakness
• Sores on the toes, feet or legs that won't heal

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 12, 2009