PAD Diagnosis: How to Spot Peripheral Artery Disease Early

When your legs ache when you walk—especially if it goes away when you rest—that’s not just aging. It could be peripheral artery disease, a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to your limbs. Also known as PAD, it affects over 8 million Americans and often goes undiagnosed until it’s too late. PAD isn’t just about discomfort. It’s a warning sign that your heart and brain arteries might be clogged too.

Doctors look for three main clues during PAD diagnosis, a process that starts with a simple ankle-brachial index test. This test compares blood pressure in your ankle to your arm—if the ankle number is much lower, it means blood flow is restricted. Other signs include cold feet, slow-healing sores, and weak pulses in your legs. If you’re over 50, smoke, have diabetes, or high cholesterol, you’re at higher risk. Ignoring these signs is like ignoring a check engine light on your car—eventually, something breaks.

Arterial blockage, the root cause of PAD, develops slowly over years. That’s why many people think their leg pain is just muscle soreness. But if you’ve noticed you can’t walk as far as you used to, or your toes feel numb after walking a few blocks, it’s not normal. The same plaque that clogs leg arteries also raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. That’s why PAD diagnosis isn’t just about your legs—it’s about your whole cardiovascular system.

What you’ll find in these articles isn’t theory. It’s real advice from people who’ve been there. You’ll learn how doctors confirm PAD with ultrasound and CT scans, why some medications work better than others, and what lifestyle changes actually make a difference. You’ll also see how PAD connects to other conditions—like diabetes, high blood pressure, and even how certain drugs interact with your circulation. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you need to know to ask the right questions and protect your mobility.