PAD Awareness Month highlights Peripheral Artery Disease symptoms, subtle mobility changes, risk factors, diagnosis, and the importance of early vascular evaluation.
PAD Awareness Month is an opportunity to increase understanding of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a circulatory condition that can quietly affect a person’s ability to walk and carry out everyday activities. Unlike conditions that produce obvious or immediate symptoms, peripheral artery disease may develop gradually, with changes in mobility often becoming part of a person’s routine before they recognize them as a potential sign of an underlying vascular problem. PAD Awareness Month provides an important opportunity to understand these less obvious changes, recognize potential signs, and encourage appropriate medical attention.
Peripheral artery disease is more common than many people realize. More than 200 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with peripheral artery disease. Yet, despite its prevalence, the condition can often go unrecognized. In fact, the 2024 ACC/AHA guideline reports that approximately 20% to 59% of people with objectively confirmed peripheral artery disease may report no leg symptoms, depending on the population and how symptoms are assessed. This means that a person may have peripheral artery disease without experiencing the classic symptoms commonly associated with the condition.
During PAD Awareness Month, understanding this less visible side of the disease is particularly important.
Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease occurs when the arteries that carry blood to the limbs, most commonly the legs, become narrowed or blocked. In many cases, this is related to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. As blood flow to the muscles is reduced, physical activity such as walking can become more difficult.
The condition can affect people differently, and peripheral artery disease symptoms may range from noticeable leg discomfort during activity to more subtle changes in walking ability. The classic symptom of peripheral artery disease is intermittent claudication, which can involve pain, aching, cramping, fatigue, or discomfort in the leg muscles during walking or exercise that typically improves with rest.
However, not everyone with peripheral artery disease experiences classic claudication. Some people may experience less typical symptoms, while others may have no obvious symptoms at all. This variation is one of the reasons peripheral artery disease can remain undetected.
This PAD Awareness Month, recognizing that symptoms can vary is an important part of improving awareness.
When Everyday Movement Starts to Change
Changes in mobility can sometimes be among the signs of peripheral artery disease that deserve attention. A person who previously walked comfortably may begin taking more frequent breaks, avoiding longer distances, choosing the closest parking space, or taking the elevator instead of the stairs. These decisions can appear insignificant when considered individually, but a gradual reduction in walking or physical activity may indicate that something has changed.
For some individuals, the change may be even more subtle. They may begin avoiding places that involve considerable walking, reduce participation in social activities, or adjust their daily routines because walking no longer feels as comfortable as it once did. Over time, these adaptations can become a new normal.
People with peripheral artery disease may also unconsciously change their activity levels to avoid symptoms. If walking is uncomfortable, an individual may simply walk shorter distances or stop before symptoms become noticeable. As a result, they may not recognize these limitations as potential peripheral artery disease symptoms.
However, a new limitation in walking ability should not automatically be attributed to ageing or reduced fitness. Paying attention to changes from one’s usual level of mobility can help identify when further evaluation for peripheral artery disease may be appropriate.
PAD Awareness Month is a reminder to pay attention to these everyday changes rather than automatically accepting them as normal.
Peripheral Artery Disease Does Not Always Present With Typical Symptoms
A common misconception is that a person cannot have peripheral artery disease if they are still able to walk. In reality, peripheral artery disease can present differently from one individual to another. Some people may experience symptoms during physical activity, while others may have less typical or subtle symptoms. Some may not experience noticeable symptoms at all.
Peripheral artery disease symptoms can include pain, aching, cramping, fatigue, weakness, numbness, or other discomfort in the legs during physical activity. The location and nature of symptoms can vary depending on the arteries affected and the severity of blood-flow limitation.
This variation can make peripheral artery disease difficult to identify based on symptoms alone. It is therefore important to consider changes in mobility and activity levels alongside other aspects of an individual’s health and cardiovascular risk profile.
Another misconception is that peripheral artery disease is simply a normal consequence of getting older. Although the risk of peripheral artery disease increases with age, persistent changes in walking ability or leg symptoms should not automatically be dismissed as part of normal ageing. A change from what was previously normal for an individual can be a reason to seek medical advice.
By highlighting these misconceptions, PAD Awareness Month can help encourage greater awareness of the ways peripheral artery disease may present.
Peripheral artery disease has been associated with impaired walking performance, functional status, and quality of life. This means that the condition can influence more than circulation alone; it can also affect how comfortably and independently a person moves through daily life.
This is why PAD Awareness Month matters. Awareness can encourage people to recognize changes in their everyday movement and have more informed conversations with healthcare professionals.
Being aware of how you normally walk and identifying when that pattern begins to change can be an important first step toward understanding whether further evaluation is appropriate.
Peripheral artery disease may not always be visible, but its effects can sometimes be reflected in the way a person moves through everyday life.
Recognizing Peripheral Artery Disease Signs, You Should Not Ignore
There is no single experience that defines peripheral artery disease. Some people may notice discomfort or other symptoms in the legs during walking, while others may simply recognize that they cannot walk as far as they previously could. A gradual reduction in walking distance, increasing need for rest, or changes in everyday mobility may all be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
Other peripheral artery disease signs may include changes in the skin or temperature of the leg or foot, numbness or weakness, reduced pulses in the feet, or wounds on the legs or feet that do not heal normally. These signs can have several possible causes, so they should not be used to self-diagnose peripheral artery disease. However, persistent or concerning changes warrant appropriate medical evaluation.
The important point is not to self-diagnose based on one symptom or one change. Instead, persistent or unexplained changes in walking ability should be considered in the context of the individual’s overall health and evaluated appropriately.
When peripheral artery disease is suspected, evaluation generally begins with a medical history and physical examination. The ankle-brachial index (ABI), a non-invasive test that compares blood pressure at the ankle with blood pressure in the arm, is commonly used to help establish the diagnosis.
This PAD Awareness Month, Know Peripheral Artery Disease
PAD Awareness Month is more than a reminder about a vascular condition. It is an opportunity to recognize that changes in everyday movement can sometimes point to an underlying health concern.
Peripheral artery disease is not necessarily defined by severe pain or an inability to walk. For some people, the first noticeable change may simply be that everyday activities no longer feel as easy as they once did.
If walking ability has changed, if activities that once felt routine have become increasingly difficult, or if leg symptoms are affecting daily life, speaking with a healthcare professional can help determine whether further evaluation for peripheral artery disease is needed.
You may not see peripheral artery disease. But you can pay attention to how it may affect the way you move.
This PAD Awareness Month, take notice of changes in your everyday mobility, understand the potential signs and symptoms of peripheral artery disease, and make vascular health part of the conversation.
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