Symptoms:

Often, symptoms affect one limb. If arteriosclerosis is in both limbs, the intensity is usually different in each.

• Change of color of the legs
• Cold legs or feet
• Leg pain (intermittent claudication)
  • Occurs with exercise (such as walking)
  • Relieved with rest
• Loss of hair on the legs and/or feet
• Muscle pain in the thighs, calves, or feet
• Numbness of the legs or feet at rest
• Paleness or blueness (cyanosis)
• Walking/gait abnormalities
• Weak or absent pulse in the limb

Signs and tests:

During an examination, the health care provider may find:

• A whooshing sound with the stethoscope over the artery (arterial bruits)
• Decreased blood pressure in the affected limb
• Decreased or no pulse in the legs or feet

Blood tests may show high cholesterol.

Tests for peripheral artery disease:

• An abnormal ratio between the blood pressure of the ankle and arm (ankle/brachial index, or ABI)
• Angiography of the arteries in the legs (arteriography)
• Doppler ultrasound exam of an extremity
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) of the legs or feet
• MRI scan