PAD most commonly causes blood clots, swelling or narrowing and
blockage of the blood vessels. The most common symptom is
painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves when
walking, climbing the stairs or exercising. Other warning signs
include tingling or a dull ache in the legs. Typically, the pain
goes away with rest and returns when the person starts walking
again. This makes sense because working muscles need more blood
flow; resting muscles can get by with less. If there’s a blood
flow blockage due to plaque buildup in the arteries or veins,
the muscles won’t get enough blood during exercise. The feeling
of cramps or pain is the muscles’ way of warning the body that
they are not getting enough blood to meet the increased need
during exercise. This is called “intermittent claudication.”
Could you be at risk? Sometimes, leg pain can be confusing.
People may think it is caused from arthritis, sciatica or just
“stiffness” from getting older. It’s important to remember that
PAD pain occurs in the mus