Because peripheral arterial disease (PAD) rarely manifests in warning signs, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated in the United States. Yet the estimated number of people in the USA who have it (generally older adults) is large, ranging from 8 to 12 million.
About a third of these people have symptomatic pain. Symptoms include:
- pain
- ache
- cramp or severe fatigue in one or both legs when walking so that those affected slacken their walking pace, or stop altogether
In later stages of the disease, pain may occur in the toes and feet during periods of inactivity, especially at night, and if untreated the blockage (PAD is defined by blockage of blood vessels outside the heart) can lead to gangrene, ulcers, and loss of the foot or limb.
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