Leg pain when walking that goes away with rest is often the first sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your legs. This cramping, aching, or heaviness in your calves, thighs, or buttocks occurs because your leg muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen-rich blood during activity. If you’re experiencing these symptoms in Bergen County, understanding PAD and seeking early treatment can prevent serious complications and restore your quality of life.
What Is Peripheral Artery Disease and Why Does It Cause Leg Pain?
Peripheral artery disease occurs when plaque—a buildup of cholesterol, fat, and other substances—accumulates in the arteries that carry blood to your limbs, most commonly your legs. This process, called atherosclerosis, is the same one that causes coronary artery disease in the heart. As the arteries narrow, your leg muscles don’t receive adequate blood flow, especially during physical activity when they need more oxygen.
The hallmark symptom is called claudication, which is cramping or discomfort in your leg muscles that starts with walking or exercise and goes away within minutes of rest. You might describe it as a charley horse, aching, fatigue, or heaviness in your calves, thighs, hips, or buttocks. The location of your pain often indicates which arteries are blocked.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 8 to 12 million Americans have PAD, yet many don’t realize it because they attribute their symptoms to normal aging or arthritis. In North Jersey, where our population includes many individuals over 50, recognizing PAD early is crucial for preventing progression to more serious complications.
Risk Factors for Peripheral Artery Disease in Bergen County Residents
Understanding your risk for PAD helps you take preventive action. The same factors that increase your risk for heart disease also contribute to peripheral artery disease:
- Smoking: The single most important risk factor, smoking dramatically increases PAD risk and accelerates disease progression
- Diabetes: High blood sugar damages blood vessels and increases PAD risk by four times
- Age: Risk increases significantly after age 50, with one in every 20 Americans over 50 having PAD
- High blood pressure: Damages artery walls and promotes plaque buildup
- High cholesterol: Contributes directly to arterial plaque formation
- Family history: Genetics play a role in cardiovascular disease risk
- Obesity: Increases strain on the circulatory system and promotes inflammation
- Sedentary lifestyle: Lack of physical activity weakens circulation
If you have coronary artery disease or have had a stroke, your risk of having PAD is significantly higher. These conditions share the same underlying cause—atherosclerosis—affecting different parts of your vascular system.
Recognizing the Warning Signs Beyond Leg Pain
While claudication is the most common symptom, PAD can present in other ways, especially as it progresses. Some people experience no symptoms at all in the early stages, which is why screening is important if you have risk factors.
Additional warning signs include:
- Coldness in your lower leg or foot, especially compared to the other leg
- Numbness or weakness in your legs
- Shiny skin or skin color changes on your legs
- Slow-growing toenails or hair loss on your legs and feet
- Sores or wounds on your toes, feet, or legs that won’t heal
- Weak or absent pulse in your legs or feet
- Erectile dysfunction in men, which can be an early sign of vascular disease
In advanced cases, you might experience pain in your legs or feet even at rest, particularly at night. This is called critical limb ischemia and requires immediate medical attention to prevent tissue death and potential amputation.
How We Diagnose Peripheral Artery Disease at Cross County Cardiology
If you’re experiencing symptoms or have risk factors for PAD, we offer comprehensive diagnostic testing right here in Paramus. Early diagnosis allows us to start treatment before the disease progresses to more serious stages.
The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, painless test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle to the blood pressure in your arm. A significant difference indicates blocked arteries in your legs. This test takes only a few minutes and can be performed during a regular office visit.
Additional diagnostic tools we may use include:
- Doppler ultrasound: Uses sound waves to visualize blood flow through your arteries and identify blockages
- CT angiography or MR angiography: Creates detailed images of your blood vessels to locate and assess the severity of blockages
- Angiography: An invasive test where contrast dye is injected to create X-ray images of blood flow, typically used when planning interventional treatment
Dr. Pumill will review your medical history, perform a physical examination checking pulses in your legs and feet, and recommend the appropriate tests based on your symptoms and risk factors.
Treatment Options: From Lifestyle Changes to Advanced Interventions
Treatment for PAD focuses on reducing symptoms, improving your ability to walk and stay active, and preventing the disease from progressing. Most importantly, treating PAD reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke, since the same atherosclerotic process affects arteries throughout your body.
Lifestyle modifications form the foundation of PAD treatment:
- Quit smoking: This is the single most important step you can take. We can connect you with cessation programs and resources in Bergen County
- Supervised exercise therapy: A structured walking program can significantly improve your walking distance and reduce symptoms
- Healthy diet: Focus on heart-healthy foods low in saturated fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Weight management: Achieving a healthy weight reduces strain on your circulatory system
Medications help manage PAD and prevent complications:
- Antiplatelet drugs like aspirin or clopidogrel to prevent blood clots
- Cholesterol-lowering statins to reduce plaque buildup
- Blood pressure medications to control hypertension
- Cilostazol or pentoxifylline to improve blood flow and reduce claudication symptoms
- Diabetes medications to control blood sugar if you’re diabetic
For more severe cases, we may recommend minimally invasive procedures or surgery. Angioplasty opens blocked arteries using a balloon catheter, often with a stent placed to keep the artery open. In some cases, bypass surgery creates a new route for blood flow around the blocked artery using a blood vessel from another part of your body or a synthetic graft.
Why Early Treatment Matters: Protecting Your Heart and Legs
Many patients don’t realize that PAD is more than just a leg problem—it’s a warning sign of widespread atherosclerosis. Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that people with PAD have a significantly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death compared to those without the disease.
Early diagnosis and treatment can:
- Improve your walking distance and reduce leg pain, helping you stay active
- Prevent progression to critical limb ischemia and reduce amputation risk
- Lower your risk of heart attack and stroke through comprehensive cardiovascular risk management
- Enhance your overall quality of life and independence
At Cross County Cardiology, we take a comprehensive approach to PAD treatment, addressing not just your leg symptoms but your overall cardiovascular health. We coordinate care with other specialists when needed and provide ongoing monitoring to ensure your treatment plan remains effective.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peripheral Artery Disease
How do I know if my leg pain is PAD or just muscle soreness?
PAD-related leg pain has distinct characteristics: it occurs predictably with walking or activity, affects specific muscle groups (usually calves), and relieves quickly with rest—typically within 10 minutes. Muscle soreness from exercise tends to persist regardless of rest, may worsen the day after activity, and doesn’t follow the same predictable pattern. If your leg pain consistently occurs at the same walking distance and resolves with rest, schedule an evaluation with us in Paramus to rule out PAD.
Can peripheral artery disease be reversed?
While we cannot completely reverse atherosclerosis, aggressive lifestyle changes and medical treatment can stabilize plaque, improve blood flow, and in some cases reduce plaque burden. Quitting smoking, exercising regularly, following a heart-healthy diet, and taking prescribed medications can significantly improve symptoms and prevent disease progression. Many patients experience substantial improvement in their walking ability and quality of life with comprehensive treatment.
Is walking good or bad if I have PAD?
Walking is actually one of the best treatments for PAD, though it may seem counterintuitive since walking causes your symptoms. Supervised exercise therapy that gradually increases your walking distance helps your body develop collateral circulation—new small blood vessels that route around blockages. The key is to walk until you experience mild to moderate discomfort, rest until it resolves, then resume walking. Over time, this approach can dramatically increase the distance you can walk comfortably. We’ll help you develop a safe, effective walking program tailored to your condition.
Should I see a cardiologist or a vascular surgeon for PAD?
Board-certified cardiologists like Dr. Pumill are well-equipped to diagnose and manage PAD, especially since it’s closely linked to heart disease. We provide comprehensive evaluation, medical management, risk factor modification, and coordinate interventional procedures when needed. If you require complex vascular surgery, we work closely with experienced vascular surgeons in the Bergen County area to ensure you receive the best possible care. Starting with a cardiology evaluation makes sense because we can assess your overall cardiovascular health and determine the most appropriate treatment path.
If you’re experiencing leg pain when walking, don’t dismiss it as a normal part of aging. Early evaluation and treatment of peripheral artery disease can prevent serious complications and help you maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Our team at Cross County Cardiology in Paramus provides comprehensive PAD diagnosis and treatment, along with the cardiovascular care you need to protect your heart and overall health.
Schedule a consultation with our board-certified cardiologists at Cross County Cardiology. Call (201) 299-4479 or request an appointment online.
