If you’ve been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, here’s something your vascular specialist wants you to understand: PAD is not just a leg problem. It’s a whole-body vascular disease, and it may be the first visible sign that atherosclerosis is also affecting your heart and brain.
The numbers are sobering. Patients with PAD have a twofold to threefold increased risk of heart attack compared to the general population. They have a twofold to sixfold increased risk of stroke. And the 2025 ACC Scientific Statement on PAD in diabetes noted that PAD may be the most frequent first manifestation of cardiovascular disease, meaning your leg symptoms may appear before any chest pain or cardiac event.
Why the connection? The same process (atherosclerosis) that narrows the arteries in your legs also narrows the coronary arteries (causing heart disease) and the carotid arteries (causing stroke). When plaque is found in one vascular bed, it’s almost always present in others.
This is why the 2024 ACC/AHA PAD Guideline doesn’t just recommend treating your legs. It recommends comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction: high-intensity statin therapy, blood pressure management, the rivaroxaban-aspirin combination for eligible patients, smoking cessation, and glycemic control in in patients with diabetes.
What this means for you. If you have PAD, you should be under the care of a vascular specialist who evaluates your complete cardiovascular risk, not just your walking distance. At SACMD, our vascular team coordinates with cardiology and primary care to ensure your PAD treatment plan addresses the systemic disease, not just the local symptoms.
Your legs are telling you something important. Listen.
Schedule a consultation: Call (240) 427-1630 or visit www.sacmd.com
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
References: -e 1. Gornik HL, et al. 2024 ACC/AHA PAD Guideline. JACC. 2024. 2. Das SR, et al. PAD in Diabetes ACC Scientific Statement. JACC. 2025. 3. AHA. Atherosclerosis — Risk Factors. heart.org. 4. Cleveland Clinic. PAD and Cardiovascular Risk.
Dr. Rahbar is an esteemed vascular surgeon at Surgical Associates, known for their exceptional contributions to the field of vascular surgery. As a board-certified vascular surgeon with over 20 years of invaluable experience, Dr. Rahbar is a respected authority in the medical community serving Camp Spring, Maryland and the whole community of Maryland. Their unwavering dedication to providing advanced care for patients with diseases of the arteries and veins has earned them a reputation for excellence. Dr. Rahbar’s work embodies a passion for precision and compassion, improving the lives of those they serve, one procedure at a time.