Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms: Differences Between Men and Women

Peripheral artery disease, PAD, is a complex health condition that plagues thousands of adult men and women each year. For many patients, the peripheral artery disease symptoms may be different, and therefore diagnosis testing different, based upon gender. If you have a family history of PAD, it is important to become familiar with the variances in testing and what decisions you need to make based upon your gender.

One of the most common symptoms among men and women with peripheral artery disease is the presence of intermittent claudication. However, beyond this similarity, men and women present with differing symptoms and, therefore, testing for peripheral artery disease must be different based upon your gender. Just like complications with acute gouty arthritis, testing will vary depending upon your male or female biochemical makeup.

If you do not have any symptoms of intermittent claudication, and if you are concerned about your PAD risks, you will want to ask your physician about testing. For men, when peripheral artery disease symptoms are present, the most common signs will include a more pronounced history of cardiovascular disease and this is especially true in men with smoking history. So, as a man with peripheral artery disease concerns, be sure to ask about cardiovascular testing as part of your PAD screening.

For women, the risks for cardiovascular comorbidity are not as common as they are in men. Instead, women tend to struggle from complications associated with outward appearance. Such changes may include a slower speed when walking and a higher rate of complaints about joint swelling and joint pain. As a woman, therefore, if you have concerns about PAD in your personal health, and if you find that your physical movement and joint health has recently changed, this could call for additional testing in your physiological and orthopedic health.

While treatment for peripheral artery disease is essentially the same in both men and women, the risks for screening the condition early are quite different and, as a result, must be tailored to the gender specific needs. By monitoring these gender specific changes, you can work to ensure your health is protected and if you are a candidate with peripheral artery disease, the proper testing is completed.

Sources: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2011, vol 11, p. 39