Leg pain can warn of a serious condition: Why peripheral artery disease (PAD) needs more attention

Peripheral artery disease may go unnoticed because people with leg pain symptoms may walk less, avoid stairs or may attribute symptoms to arthritis or aging. (Unsplash+/Getty Images) Leg pain can warn of a serious condition: Why peripheral artery disease (PAD) needs more attention Published: September 23, 2026 10.45am EDT Share article Print article Pain in your legs when you walk may seem like a normal part of getting older. But it can be a warning sign that the arteries carrying blood to your legs are becoming blocked: a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). If these blockages become severe, blood flow to the leg can suddenly be cut off, causing what is sometimes described as a “heart attack of the leg.” The PAD burden is also not shared equally. People who smoke and have diabetes have the greatest risk of PAD, and it disproportionately affects those living on lower incomes, those in rural and remote communities, Indigenous Peoples and other under-served populations. That’s because these groups often face greater barriers to preventive care, diagnosis and vascular specialists, which — because of delayed care — results in worse outcomes, like amputation. As physicians working in vascular medicine, we regularly care for people with PAD and see the consequences when the disease is recognized too late. Together with colleagues affiliated with the Canadian Society of Vascular Medicine and Prevention (CSVMP), we developed the Canadian National Action Plan for Peripheral Artery Disease, a road map for improving how we recognize, diagnose and treat this overlooked disease. The plan focuses on six areas: awareness, earlier diagnosis, better treatment and care pathways, Indigenous-led care, research and advocacy. Leg pain when walking may be a warning sign that the arteries carrying blood to your legs are becoming blocked: a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). (Unsplash+/Zyanya Citlalli) PAD is more than a problem with your legs PAD occurs when plaque builds up inside arteries and restricts blood flow, most commonly to the legs. It is part of the same disease process that causes heart attacks and many strokes. One of its most common symptoms is discomfort, aching, cramping or fatigue in the leg muscles that occurs during walking and improves with rest. This is called claudication. But symptoms are not always typical, and some people have few or no symptoms. This helps explain why PAD can go unnoticed. People may simply start…