In this Article

• What is peripheral vascular disease?
• What is atherosclerosis?
• How does atherosclerosis cause disease?
• What are potential complications of peripheral artery disease?
• What are the other causes of peripheral vascular diseases?
• Who is at risk for peripheral artery disease?
• What are the symptoms and signs of peripheral artery disease?
• How is peripheral artery disease diagnosed?
• What are the treatments for peripheral artery disease?
• Lifestyle changes
• Supervised exercise
• Medications
• Angioplasty
• Surgery
• Peripheral Vascular Disease At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Peripheral Vascular Disease - Describe Your Experience
• Peripheral Vascular Disease Glossary
• Peripheral Vascular Disease Index

What are the symptoms and signs of peripheral artery disease?

Approximately half of people with peripheral artery disease do not experience any symptoms. For patients with symptoms, the most common symptoms are intermittent claudication and rest pain.

• Intermittent claudication - Intermittent claudication refers to pain or cramping in the arms or legs that occurs with exercise and subsides with rest. The severity and location of the pain of intermittent claudication vary depending upon the location and extent of blockage of the involved artery. The most common location of intermittent claudication is the calf muscle. The pain in the calf muscle occurs only during exercise such as walking, and the pain steadily increases with continued walking until the patient has to stop due to intolerable pain. Then the pain quickly subsides during rest. Intermittent claudication can affect one or both legs.

• Rest pain - Rest pain occurs when the artery occlusion is so critical that there is not enough blood and oxygen supply to the lower extremities even at rest. The pain typically affects the feet, is usually severe, and occurs at night when the patient assumes a supine position (lying down, face up).

Other symptoms and signs of peripheral artery disease include:

• Numbness of the extremities
  
  
• Weakness and atrophy (diminished size and strength) of the calf muscle
  
  
• A feeling of coldness in the legs or feet
  
  
• Changes in color of the feet; feet turn pale when they are elevated, and turn dusky red in dependent position
  
  
• Hair loss over the dorsum of the feet and thickening of the toenails
  
  
• Painful ulcers and/or gangrene in tissue where there is critical ischemia; typically in the toes.

Peripheral Vascular Disease - Describe Your Experience

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

Please describe your experience with peripheral vascular disease.

Anonymously share your comment to help others.
See 14 Viewer Comments

Submit Your Comment

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• warfarin, Coumadin - Reveals the medication warfarin (Coumadin) a drug used to inhibit the synthesis of clotting factors, thus preventing blood clot formation. Article includes descriptions, uses, drug interactions, and side effects.
• Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.
• Kidney Failure - Learn about kidney failure, in which the body has fluid retention, risen blood pressure, toxin build up and lack of red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and apetite loss.

Read more Peripheral Vascular Disease related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Heart Drug Combos Raise Risk of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
• Sky-High Calories in Some Restaurant Meals
• Guidelines Suggested for Heart-Kidney Transplants
• Migraines in Pregnancy Boost Vascular Risks