Women's peripheral artery disease often missed without classic leg pain

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) frequently goes undiagnosed in women, significantly increasing the likelihood of critical cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, according to experts interviewed by The Washington Post. PAD occurs when atherosclerotic plaques build up in the arteries of the lower extremities. These deposits narrow the arterial lumen, obstructing normal blood flow to the tissues. Cardiologist Heather Gornik notes that the primary diagnostic challenge for women is the absence of a "classic" clinical presentation. While intermittent claudication-specific calf pain that appears during walking and disappears after a short rest-is considered a traditional sign of arterial damage, specialists state that women rarely experience this particular symptom.