What are the common symptoms of PAD?

What are the common symptoms of PAD?

• A. Intermittent claudication, numbness, weakness, and in severe cases, rest pain or non-healing ulcers.
• B. Chest pain with exertion.
• C. Nausea and vomiting.
• D. Headache.

Answer: (A)

Peripheral artery disease reduces blood flow to the legs, so the symptoms arise from muscle and nerve ischemia during activity and at rest as the disease progresses. The classic pattern is intermittent claudication—pain or cramping in the legs with walking that improves with rest. As blood flow worsens, numbness and weakness can appear due to ongoing ischemia. In advanced disease, rest pain in the feet or toes occurs, often at night when lying down, and non-healing ulcers can form because the skin and tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen and nutrients. The other options don’t fit PAD: chest pain with exertion points to heart artery disease (angina), while nausea, vomiting, and headaches are not characteristic PAD symptoms.

Peripheral artery disease reduces blood flow to the legs, so the symptoms arise from muscle and nerve ischemia during activity and at rest as the disease progresses. The classic pattern is intermittent claudication—pain or cramping in the legs with walking that improves with rest. As blood flow worsens, numbness and weakness can appear due to ongoing ischemia. In advanced disease, rest pain in the feet or toes occurs, often at night when lying down, and non-healing ulcers can form because the skin and tissues aren’t getting enough oxygen and nutrients. The other options don’t fit PAD: chest pain with exertion points to heart artery disease (angina), while nausea, vomiting, and headaches are not characteristic PAD symptoms.