Heart disease is expected to will affect 61% of American adults by 2050so it is important to know when problems may arise.

Leg pain, cramps and persistent foot injuries are among the symptoms that may indicate peripheral artery disease (PAD), the narrowing or blockage of the vessels that supply blood to the legs.

“Lower extremity PAD, or PAD in the legs and feet, is a spectrum” Dr Young Erbenvascular surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, said last month. “This ranges from people experiencing leg pain when walking to more advanced cases, where blood flow to the leg is so impaired that patients have pain at rest or develop injuries to their toes and feet.”

More than 12 million Americans are he is thought to be suffering from PADwhich increases the probability of having cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease refers to several conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, vascular disease, congenital heart defects, stroke And high blood pressure.

Experts say that if cholesterol and fat accumulate in the arteries of the legs, they likely also accumulate in other arteries, including those that supply blood to the heart and brain.

Risk factors for PAD include tobacco consumptiona sedentary lifestyle, age over 50, high blood pressure, high cholesteroldiabetes and a family history of this disease.

Treatment depends on the severity of the case, with Erben warning that untreated PAD can cause open sores that do not heal, potentially leading to tissue death and, in severe cases, requiring amputation of a limb.

Erben recommends seeing a doctor if you suffer from recurring leg cramps, called charley horsesleg pain that starts with exercise and a foot wound – even a small one – that won’t heal.

“Mild symptoms are the ones that people tend to ignore,” Erben said. “Unfortunately, they often don’t realize they have a problem until it becomes a serious problem. The most important message I can give to patients is that you may think this is a small complaint, but please talk to your doctor. Because it might reveal something you never thought about.

Patients with PAD are often prescribed a walking program to increase blood flow to the legs.

The University of Michigan recommends walk three to five times per week, increasing to at least 30 minutes per session while monitoring for leg pain, cramps, or tightness in the calves.

“I’ve seen this with my patients over time: over three to six months, if they walk very carefully, the pain associated with walking will decrease and people who are in the very early stages of PAD can almost get back to normal,” Erben said.

If walking alone doesn’t work, medication or surgery may be needed to improve blood flow.