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Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a circulatory condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, usually the legs. This happens when fatty deposits called plaque build up in artery walls, a process called atherosclerosis. PAD affects approximately 8-12 million Americans, particularly those over 65, though many don't recognize their symptoms.

The most common warning sign is claudication—leg pain, cramping, or heaviness during walking or climbing stairs that disappears with rest. This occurs because narrowed arteries can't deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to leg muscles during activity. Other symptoms include leg numbness or weakness, coldness in your lower leg or foot compared to the other side, slow-growing toenails, shiny skin on legs, no pulse or weak pulse in legs or feet, and wounds or sores on toes, feet, or legs that won't heal.

PAD significantly increases your risk of heart attack and stroke because the same atherosclerotic process affects arteries throughout your body. Risk factors mirror those for heart disease: smoking (the most significant), diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, age over 50, and family history of PAD or cardiovascular disease.

Diagnosis typically involves ankle-brachial index testing, comparing blood pressure in your ankle to your arm. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and stopping atherosclerosis progression through lifestyle changes, medications, and sometimes procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery. If you experience leg pain during activity, don't dismiss it as normal aging—consult your doctor promptly for evaluation.