Peripheral Arterial Disease

Symptoms

The symptoms of peripheral arterial disease vary and typically become more severe as the arteries narrow.

In the early stages, common symptoms include intermittent claudication (pain, cramping or weakness in the legs, buttocks or arms) that occurs with the patient is active and disappears when activity stops.

As peripheral arterial disease progresses, the symptoms may increase, including:

• Limping or abnormal gait while walking
• Aching pain in the feet or toes when resting
• Vascular ulcers (sores on the leg, foot or arm that won't heal or become infected)
• Hair loss on the legs or arms
• Change of color, to pale or blue skin on the legs or arms

In severe cases, blackened tissue on the toes, feet or fingers, indicates that the tissue has died (gangrene). Treatment may require amputation.

Abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms are typically symptomless until they expand, leak or rupture. Severe abdominal and/or back pain may indicate a leak or rupture. A leak or rupture is urgent and patients should seek medical attention immediately.

Some patients with carotid artery disease may be asymptomatic (without symptoms) while others may experience transient ischemic attacks (TIA) that produce strokelike symptoms that warn of impending stroke but cause no lasting damage. These symptoms may include numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, slurred speech or blindness in one eye.