What are the symptoms of Peripheral Arterial Disease?

In some cases, symptoms do not appear until the condition has reached an advanced or severe stage. Symptoms may include:

• Intermittent claudication – pain in the lower leg (calf) muscles that occurs after walking a certain distance, is relieved by resting, and recurs at the same distance. The pain occurs as not enough oxygen is being supplied to the leg muscles.

• Coldness in the lower legs or feet.

• Numbness or weakness in the legs

• Wounds (and ulcers) on the feet and legs which do not heal

In general practice, it is estimated that about 30% of patients have PAD, with about 10% experiencing intermittent claudication.

If left untreated, symptoms can worsen, progressing to short-distance claudication, pain in the legs even at rest, or the development of arterial ulcers and gangrene (areas of dead tissue).

Most patients who present with claudication will have stable symptoms at five years. However, 10-20% will develop worsening claudication, and another 5-10% will progress to chronic limb ischaemia (severe lack of blood supply). Chronic limb ischaemia is an advanced stage of PAD which can be characterised by intense leg pain, leg pain while resting, arterial ulcers or gangrene.