A Cardiovascular Disease That Is Easy to Overlook

When you don't have symptoms, this common disease may not be on your physician's radar.

Published: April 18, 2019

Legs that cramp when walking are a classic symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The discomfort occurs because atherosclerosis has narrowed the arteries in the legs, restricting blood flow. This makes PAD a close cousin of coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Unfortunately, some physicians don't look for PAD in asymptomatic patients, even when they are at high risk for the disease.