Signs of a problem

People whose legs are painful or get tired easily or who have trouble walking distances because of leg cramps should have an assessment for PAD, Dr. Kirksey says. Current or past smokers, or anyone with a family history of PAD or symptoms of the disease, should also be assessed.

No symptoms, no testing needed

Screening for PAD probably doesn’t make sense for a healthy individual without symptoms, who is younger than 60 years old, has never smoked and has no family history of atherosclerosis or heart disease, he adds.

In this case, screening may actually expose a patient to more risk. This is because the tests can occasionally be incorrect and lead to much more invasive testing, which has its own inherent risks.

PAD may affect the whole body

It’s important to remember that atherosclerosis is not a localized process; it is a systemic disease that affects the arteries everywhere in the body. To that end, if you have PAD, you have a greater risk of having a stroke or heart attack, Dr. Kirksey notes.

Medication and lifestyle changes, including stopping smoking, are very important for patients who have any evidence of a decrease in the blood flow in their legs and feet.

So listen to your body and report when your body is talking to you. ‘Charlie horses’ in your legs and muscle cramps may be a sign of vascular disease.