Peripheral artery disease affects millions of adults in the US

Peripheral artery disease (pAVK) affects an estimated 10 to 12 million adults over the age of 40 in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. The condition involves plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to the legs.

Many individuals fail to recognize the disease because early symptoms are often dismissed as muscle soreness or signs of aging. A common symptom is claudicatio, characterized by muscle pain, cramps, or heaviness in the calves, thighs, or buttocks that occurs during walking and subsides with rest. However, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) notes that only about one in four people with pAVK experience this classic pattern.

Because the same disease process affects the arteries supplying the heart and brain, individuals with pAVK face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Dr. Matthew Cindric of Penn State Health describes claudicatio as a “life-limiting disease,” noting that patients often reduce their physical activity levels as a result.