Let’s begin with the most common signal: intermittent claudication – that same leg cramping we mentioned earlier that forces you to stop walking or climbing stairs.
Unlike normal muscle fatigue, this pain has a distinct pattern: it strikes during activity and quickly subsides with rest. It’s your muscles crying out for more blood flow.
Moving to our second sign, we see persistent leg numbness and weakness.
This isn’t normal aging – it’s an ongoing sensation affecting your feet and leg muscles, signaling that blood flow has been significantly reduced.
The third warning sign reveals something many people overlook: temperature differences in your legs and feet.
If one leg feels notably colder than the other, or your feet feel cold compared to the rest of your body, it’s a clear signal that blood isn’t reaching these areas effectively.
Your skin tells the fourth story.
PAD can cause your legs to develop a shiny, smooth texture, often taking on pale, bluish, or purplish tones – all signs that your skin isn’t getting the blood supply it needs.
