A patient diagnosed with PAD will commonly experience which symptom?

Patients diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) typically experience cramping pain in the muscles, particularly in the legs or buttocks, during activities like walking or exercise. This symptom is known as claudication and occurs due to insufficient blood flow to the muscles when they are exerted. The discomfort usually dissipates with rest, as the demand for oxygen-rich blood decreases. This characteristic experience is directly tied to the pathophysiology of PAD, where narrowed arteries lead to reduced blood supply during physical activity.

While the other symptoms, such as numbness, cold extremities, and swelling, can be associated with PAD or similar vascular conditions, they are not as defining or common as claudication when it comes to PAD specifically. Numbness may indicate more severe disease or neuropathy, cold extremities suggest advanced ischemia, and swelling could be related to venous issues rather than arterial compromise.