11 Signs Cholesterol Is Harming Your Legs

1. Pain in the legs

An extremely common PAD symptom is claudication, a type of leg pain or discomfort.

Because the arteries are clogged, they can't deliver enough blood to the legs to support exertion. Some people say their legs feel "heavy" or tired, or they report a burning pain, Dr. Slovut says.

The pain can be in any part of the leg, from the calf to the thigh or buttock, and it may be in one or both legs. It's also reproducible: The pain happens when walking a certain distance (like two blocks), it's relieved by rest, and then occurs again when walking the same distance.

2. Nighttime cramps

While sleeping, people with PAD may get cramps or spasms, typically in the heel, forefoot, or toes, says Darren Schneider, MD, director of the Center for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at New York–Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The pain can often be relieved by dangling the foot off the bed or sitting in a chair, which allows gravity to assist blood flow to the feet, Dr. Schneider says.

3. Skin and nail changes

PAD can cause changes in the toenails and the skin on the legs.

Because the legs aren't receiving normal blood flow or nourishment, you may notice that you are losing hair on the feet and legs, or that it's growing back more slowly if you shave it.

The skin on the legs may get shiny and tight, and toenails may thicken or grow more slowly.

All of these are usually experienced together, Dr. Schneider says.

4. Unusual skin coloring

One of the things doctors look for is a change in the color of your legs. When raised, a leg may be white because of compromised blood flow.

Then, when the leg is dangled from the table, it can turn reddish or purplish in color, says Dr. Schneider, because the body has dilated the blood vessels to increase flow to the feet.

In some people with PAD, the feet or toes are pale or bluish when they're sitting, due to a lack of circulation.


5. Cold feet

Feet or legs that feel cold, or are cool to the touch, may be an indicator that you have PAD. But it's not really the best indicator, says Dr. Schneider.

That's because this is a common problem, and it can happen to anyone as he ages—even someone without PAD.

However, if you feel like one leg or foot is cold, but not the other, it could be time to talk to your doctor.

6. Sores that don't heal

In people with more advanced PAD, a reduction in circulation can result in foot ulcers that don't heal.

Known as ischemic ulcers, these should be treated quickly, says Dr. Schneider.

The ulcers may be brown or black, and they're often painful (as opposed to diabetic foot ulcers, which may be painless due to diabetes-related nerve damage).

7. Erectile dysfunction

This is not a common occurrence, but it is possible for PAD to cause erectile dysfunction, Dr. Slovut says.

The internal iliac arteries provide the blood supply for erections.

If both are closed or severely clogged, it can cause erectile dysfunction (ED).

"The number of patients who have ED on the basis of a vascular problem is a minority of them. I don't see it a lot, but it can be a vascular problem," Dr. Slovut says.

8. Numbness or weakness
9. Atrophy of calf muscles
10. Tissue deathh
11. No symptoms at all

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