This leg condition that’s overlooked in women can raise heart attack, stroke risk
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a circulatory condition that is frequently underdiagnosed in women, leading to increased risks of heart attack and stroke. Experts highlight that women often experience different symptoms than men, contributing to a significant awareness gap in cardiovascular care.
Why it matters
Improving diagnostic awareness for PAD in women is critical for preventing severe cardiovascular events and reducing gender-based health disparities.
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Peripheral artery disease is tied to a sixfold spike in risk of heart attack and a two- to threefold increase in risk of stroke. Photo / 123rf
Women with peripheral artery disease are less likely than men to receive a timely diagnosis or recommended care, which can further jeopardise cardiovascular health.
When you think of cardiovascular disease, you might envision plaque – a sticky, waxy substance that builds up in the arteries leading to the heart, where it can cause a heart attack. But arteries run throughout the body, and plaque can accumulate anywhere along this network. When this happens in the legs, it can cause peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which blood flow is restricted to the limbs.
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