Symptoms Grid – Black American

Symptoms of PAD

If blood is not easily reaching your toes and feet, those areas will experience a drop in temperature.

One of the first signs of the worst form of PAD, called critical limb ischemia (CLI), can be a nonhealing wound or ulcer.

Aches and pains from PAD are the result of narrowed, hardened arteries in the legs, limiting blood flow to your legs and feet.

With CLI, the obstructed blood flow is so considerable and widespread that nighttime pain attacks in your legs or feet can last minutes to hours long.

You shouldn’t have to cope with painful, heavy legs as a normal part of getting older.

If you notice a strange tingling in your foot, or you feel like your entire leg is on fire, pay attention to what your body is telling you and see a health care professional.

You may notice your skin feels drier than normal, and is an unusual color. Parts of your skin could appear to be more red when you’re sitting or standing. Or, your skin might have an unhealthy paleness when your leg is elevated.

Gangrene can cause your skin to dry or shrivel, and the flesh to turn colors — brown to purple to black — and eventually fall off.