Menu
Latest News

Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Many people who suffer from peripheral artery disease experience mild to absolutely no symptoms, though some have leg pain while walking for extended periods. Diagnosing the disease is often a challenging task. Due to there being few symptoms, and each being attributable to another disease altogether, doctors do not often catch peripheral artery disease quickly. It’s up to you to recognize the signs and symptoms beforehand.

Signs and Symptoms

When walking, you may experience muscle pain or cramping in both the legs and arms. This discomfort should disappear within a few minutes of rest. The location typically depends on the clogged or narrowed artery. The most common location is in the calf.

The severity of pain or cramping varies widely, from mild discomfort to extreme pain. Other symptoms you may notice include:

  • Painful cramping in the hip, thigh, or calf
  • Leg numbness
  • Cold feeling in the lower leg and foot
  • Sores on the toes, feet, or lower legs that do not heal
  • Hair loss or slow growth on the feet and legs
  • Slow growth of toenails
  • Shiny skin patches
  • No pulse in your legs or feet
  • Erectile dysfunction in some men

When to Visit a Doctor

If you experience any of the above symptoms in abundance, you’ll want to seek medical attention promptly. Do not just dismiss your symptoms as a normal part of aging. It’s better to be safe and have each symptom examined properly.

Even if you have none of the symptoms as mentioned above, schedule a screen if:

  • Over the age of 70
  • Over the age of 50 with a history of smoking or diabetes
  • Under 50, but with diabetes and other risk factors, such as high blood pressure

Contact Us

To schedule a screening for peripheral artery disease, contact Brookhaven Heart today by calling 631-654-3278. We’re here to help!

Welcome to Brookhaven Heart

  • ➤ Use online appointment booking for non-emergent medical conditions only. 
  • ➤ If your insurance requires a referral to see a specialist, you should obtain it from your PCP prior to your visit, failing which you shall be responsible for full payment for the visit.
  • ➤ Please bring your medications, results of recent labs, and tests if any on the day of your visit 
  • ➤ Please bring your updated insurance card and a valid form of ID such as a driver’s license.
  • ➤ Co-payments are due on the day of the visit. We accept credit cards, cash, or check.
  • ➤ When you arrive at our facility, please ask our staff to register you for the patient portal, which enables you to access your medical record, view lab results, request refills, and send e-messages to our office. 

We thank you for choosing us