A regular walking program will improve blood flow as new, small blood vessels form. The walking program is mainly as follows:

• Warm up by walking at a pace that does not cause your normal leg symptoms.
• Then walk to the point of mild-to-moderate pain or discomfort.
• Rest until the pain goes away, then try walking again.

Your goal over time is to be able to walk 30 to 60 minutes. Always talk with your health care provider before you start an exercise program. Contact your provider right away if you have any of these symptoms during or after exercise:

• Chest pain
• Breathing problems
• Dizziness
• An uneven heart rate

Make simple changes to add walking to your day.

• At work, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator, take a 5-minute walk break every hour, or add a 10- to 20-minute walk during lunch.
• Try parking at the far end of the parking lot, or even down the street. Even better, try walking to the store.
• If you ride the bus, get off the bus 1 or more stops before your normal stop and walk the rest of the way.
• Aim for a total of 30 minutes of walking, 5 times per week.

Stop smoking. Smoking narrows your arteries and increases the risk for atherosclerotic plaque or blood clots forming. Other things you can do to stay as healthy as possible are to:

• Make sure your blood pressure is well-controlled.
• Reduce your weight, if you are overweight.
• Eat a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet.
• Test your blood sugar if you have diabetes, and keep it under control.

Check your feet every day. Inspect the tops, sides, soles, heels, and between your toes. If you have vision problems, ask someone to check your feet for you. Use a moisturizer to keep your skin healthier. Look for:

• Dry or cracked skin
• Blisters or sores
• Bruises or cuts
• Redness, warmth, or tenderness
• Firm or hard spots

Contact your provider right away about any foot problems. Do not try to treat them yourself first.

If you are taking medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, take them as prescribed. If you are not taking medicine for high cholesterol, ask your provider about it as it may still help you even if your cholesterol is not high.

Your provider may prescribe the following medicines to control your peripheral artery disease:

• Aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), or other medicines which keep your blood from forming clots
• Cilostazol, a medicine that widens (dilates) the blood vessels and also thins the blood

Do not stop taking these medicines without first talking with your provider.

Contact your provider if you have:

• A leg or foot that is cool to the touch, pale, blue, or numb
• Chest pain or shortness of breath when you have leg pain
• Leg pain that does not go away, even when you are not walking or moving (called rest pain)
• Legs that are red, hot, or swollen
• New sores on your legs or feet
• Signs of infection (fever, sweats, red and painful skin, general ill feeling)
• Sores that do not heal

Peripheral vascular disease - self-care; Intermittent claudication - self-care

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Michael W. Peripheral artery disease. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2024. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier 2024:152-155.

Henkin S, Creager MA. Peripheral artery disease. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 146.

Simons JP, Schanzer A. Lower extremity arterial disease: decision making and medical management. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 108.

Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.