That cramp in your calf when you’re walking the dog. That persistent cold feeling in your feet, even when you’re under a blanket. It’s easy to dismiss these as simple signs of aging or fatigue. But what if your feet are trying to tell you something more serious about your heart health?

September is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month, a crucial time to shine a light on this common but underdiagnosed circulatory condition. At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, we believe that your feet are a window to your overall health. In this guide, we’ll help you understand the risks and recognize the warning signs!

What is PAD?

Think of your body’s circulatory system as a complex highway for blood. Your arteries are the roads that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

In Peripheral Artery Disease, these “highways” leading to your legs and feet become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis).
This traffic jam reduces blood flow, starving the muscles and tissues in your legs and feet of the oxygen they need to function and heal properly.

Are You at Risk? The Key Factors

PAD doesn’t happen overnight. It develops over years and is strongly linked to several key risk factors. You should be especially vigilant if you:

Smoke: This is the single greatest risk factor. Smoking directly damages the lining of your arteries.
Have Diabetes: High blood sugar speeds plaque buildup and harms blood vessels.
Have High Blood Pressure or High Cholesterol: These conditions are major contributors to the arterial narrowing that defines PAD.
Are Over the Age of 50: The risk of developing PAD increases significantly with age.
Have a Family History: A personal or family history of heart disease, stroke, or PAD puts you at higher risk.

Listen to Your Legs: The Subtle Warning Signs

PAD is often called a “silent” disease because its symptoms can be subtle and are frequently mistaken for something else.

Don’t ignore these signals:

Claudication: This is the classic symptom. It’s a painful cramping or aching in your calves, thighs, or hips that starts when you move and stops when you rest.
Leg Numbness or Weakness: A feeling of heaviness orfatiguein your leg muscles.
Cold Feet: One foot feeling significantly colder than the other, or feet that are always cold.
Slow-Healing Sores: A cut, blister, or ulcer on your foot or toe that won’t heal.
Changes in Appearance: Poor nail growth, hair loss on your legs and feet, or shiny, discolored skin.

If you check one or more of the boxes, it’s time to be proactive!

Your Action Plan for PAD Awareness Month

Early detection and management of PAD can dramatically improve your quality of life and help prevent serious complications like heart attack, stroke, or amputation! And because the first signs of PAD so often appear in the feet and legs, your podiatrist is in a unique position to make an early diagnosis.

Questions? Concerns? We’re always available to help!

At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, our doctor and staff proudly serve the communities of Little Falls, Cedar Grove, Verona, Stoney Road, Sandy Hill, Albion Place, and Great Notch. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.