Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is frequently unrecognized. Do you or your relative have the following?

• Painful cramping in hips, thighs or calves when walking
• Foot or toe wounds that won't heal or heal very slowly
• A marked decrease in the temperature of your lower leg or foot particularly compared to the other leg or to the rest of your body

Many people dismiss leg pain as a normal sign of aging. You may think it's arthritis, sciatica or just "stiffness" from getting older. PAD leg pain occurs in the muscles, not the joints. Individuals with diabetes might confuse PAD pain with neuropathy, a common diabetic symptom that is a burning or painful discomfort of the feet or thighs.

If you're having any kind of recurring pain, talk to your healthcare professional and describe the pain as accurately as you can. If you have any of the PAD risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, history of heart attack or stroke) you should ask your healthcare professional about PAD even if you aren't having symptoms.

To schedule an appointment with one of our cardiovascular specialists with advanced training and board certification in vascular medicine and endovascular intervention, please call (573) 882-8788.