The doctor will ask about symptoms and health history. Other signs, such as a weak pulse in the legs, may be found during a physical exam. This may be enough to suspect PAD.
PAD is often confirmed with an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test. This measures blood pressure in arteries at the elbow and ankle. It is done with a blood pressure cuff and ultrasound. The readings are compared in a ratio. If the ratio is lower than it should be, it is a sign of a problem with blood flow in the legs. A treadmill test may be done on people who have an irregular ABI to check their ability to walk.
References
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/PAD.htm. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-lower-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of upper extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-upper-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/24/2022