Dr Xand van Tulleken has issued a warning to anyone who woke up with leg pain, urging them not to dismiss it as a normal part of ageing. Appearing on BBC Morning Live, the doctor said that leg pain could be a sign of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that narrows blood vessels and restricts blood flow.
Dr Xand explained that PAD is caused by the same problems that lead to heart attacks and strokes. 'Your blood vessels narrow over time. They can calcify, they harden, they clog up with cholesterol,' he said. He described the pain as 'a bit like angina for your legs' and warned that if blood vessels become completely blocked, 'it can be like a heart attack for your legs.'
The NHS states that many people with PAD have no symptoms, but others experience a painful ache in the legs when walking, known as intermittent claudication. The pain typically disappears after a few minutes of rest. Symptoms often develop slowly, but a sudden worsening could indicate a serious problem requiring immediate treatment.
Dr Xand advised looking for additional signs of poor blood supply, such as hair loss on the legs, cold feet, slow-healing ulcers or cuts, and changes in skin tone. He stressed that 'no one should ever regard any symptoms they have as just part of getting older' and encouraged seeking medical advice for unexplained leg pain.
