(continued)
When people experience claudication, the discomfort tends to occur consistently, typically each time a person walks a certain distance, and fades within a few minutes after a person stops to rest. Walking up stairs or uphill may bring on the discomfort more rapidly. As leg artery disease progresses, leg pain may occur at shorter walking distances. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 50 percent of patients with peripheral artery disease do not have the classic symptoms of claudication.
Other patients may have non-healing ulcers or gangrene. There are also some less-common symptoms that signal peripheral artery disease. It is important to visit your physician early for proper diagnosis. The most common symptom is cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs. Typically, this pain goes away with rest and returns when you walk again.
Peripheral artery disease is usually diagnosed by using physical exam, ultrasound or CT scans. All are simple non-invasive procedures which are performed with minimal discomfort.