For people living with PAD

About peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common condition affecting the blood vessels that supply the legs and feet. It is caused by a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries, which narrows them and reduces blood flow. PAD is closely linked to smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

PAD is common, under-diagnosed, and strongly associated with social and economic disadvantage. People living in more deprived communities are significantly more likely to develop PAD, and are also less likely to be referred for effective treatment.

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom of PAD is cramping or aching pain in the legs, particularly in the calves, during walking or physical activity. The pain usually eases quickly with rest. This is called intermittent claudication.

Some people with PAD have no symptoms at all. In more advanced cases, pain can occur at rest, wounds on the feet or legs may be slow to heal, and, in severe cases, the blood supply can become critically reduced.

If you are concerned about symptoms, speak to your GP. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to slow the progression of PAD and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

How is PAD treated?

The recommended first-line treatment for intermittent claudication is supervised exercise therapy (SET). This involves a structured programme of walking exercise, delivered under the guidance of a trained healthcare professional, usually a physiotherapist or exercise specialist. Evidence consistently shows that supervised exercise therapy significantly improves walking distance, quality of life, and long-term outcomes for people with PAD.

In addition to exercise therapy, treatment for PAD typically includes:

• Stopping smoking (the single most effective step for slowing PAD progression)

• Medication to manage cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes

• Lifestyle advice on diet and physical activity

• In some cases, surgical or endovascular procedures to improve blood flow

Why is treatment often difficult to access?

Despite strong evidence for supervised exercise therapy, it is not routinely available to most people with PAD across the UK. Many areas have no specialist service, or have limited capacity, long waiting times, or services that are difficult to reach for people without access to transport, or who cannot attend during working hours.

Our research focuses on understanding these barriers and on designing better, more equitable systems of care for people with PAD. Find out more on the Current projects page.