PAD (peripheral arterial disease) is an under-recognized, and very serious, condition that affects an estimated 1.5 million Canadians every year. Whether you’re a member of the public or a health-care provider it’s important to recognize risk factors and take early, effective action to reduce the resulting arterial ulcers, amputations and mortality caused by PAD.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a condition that involves the narrowing of arteries in a person’s extremities (arms and legs). PAD can result in chronic pain (pain that doesn’t stop), wounds, tissue death, amputation of the affected limb and even death.

• Individuals over 70 
• Individuals over 50 who have 
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)
  • diabetes 
  • a history of smoking
  • high cholesterol 
  • a history of vascular disease, heart attack or stroke
• People of African or Hispanic descent

• Muscle cramps in the legs during physical activity
• Pain in the legs or feet that disrupts sleep
• Slow or poor healing of wounds on the toes, feet or legs
• Discoloration or reduced temperature in one leg compared with the other
• Poor nail growth and less or no hair growth on the toes and legs

Talk to your doctor. The sooner you get a proper diagnosis, the sooner treatment for PAD can begin. This is important for preventing complications, such as the development of leg ulcers, and improving your long-term outcomes. Your doctor will likely start out by asking you questions about your general health, lifestyle and family history, discussing any symptoms you have and performing some simple physical tests. Your doctor may also order some diagnostic tests and/or refer you to a specialist for further investigation and treatment. 

If you have PAD or are at risk for it, your health-care team will work with you to create a care plan that may involve lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking and/or getting more exercise), medications (for example, for controlling pain and/or to treat issues such as high blood pressure, blood glucose or cholesterol levels) and potentially surgery. Together these actions may help to prevent the PAD from getting worse, reduce the risk of unnecessary limb loss through amputation and preserve your quality of life. 

Effective recognition and early, effective interventions require that a number of elements be in place and available to patients and health-care providers. Included among them are:

• Ongoing education and training for health-care providers regarding PAD-related risk factors, prevention activities and management strategies, as well as what resources are available for their patients in the community.
• An environment focused on skin health and risk-based, early intervention.
• Adequate funding to support PAD-related prevention and management activities.
• Lower-limb centres where a range of expert practitioners can provide person-focused care, either in a physical location or virtually. This requires financial and policy support.
• Community supports for sustainable management that are easily accessible for patients with PAD and their families.

For Patients

Brochure: If you think it’s JUST leg pain . . . think again. 

DIY Series: Arterial Foot or Leg Ulcer

Clinic directory: Find a clinic in your area that specializes in lower limb care

For Health-care Providers

Brochure: Get the facts on peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Limb Preservation Journal

Best Practice Recommendations for the Prevention and Management of Peripheral Arterial Ulcers chapter of Skin Health and Wound Management: Best Practice Recommendations 2025 

Professional education: Focus On the Prevention and Management of Peripheral Arterial Ulcers educational program offered by the Wounds Canada Institute

For Health Decision Makers

Pathway for Preventing and Managing Vascular Wounds

Diabetes in Canada: #End Amputations

Wounds in Canada: The Hidden Epidemic

Videos:

• Keynote: A Passion for Saving Limbs: Lessons Learned from a Career in Amputation Prevention
• Challenges and Opportunities to Limb Preservation in Rural and Remote Communities

Click play to watch an insightful message on PAD prevention and intervention from Dr. David Armstrong, representing the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS), our valued awareness partner and member of the Limb Preservation Alliance.

Get involved! Raise awareness about PAD awareness and prevention by:

• Joining the Conversation: Engage on social media to learn more about PAD and spread the word. Follow Wounds Canada’s awareness campaigns on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Use the hashtags #LimbPreservationAlliance, #ActAgainstAmputation, #PADAwareness, #PeripheralArterialDisease, #ProtectSkin, #EndWounds and #ActAgainstAmputation.
• Promoting Prevention: Discuss risk factors and available support in your community to increase awareness and improve the lives of those at risk of PAD and their families.
• Sharing Your Experience: If you or a loved one is living with PAD, use your voice to help raise awareness or share your experience with our team through our Our Voices, Our Stories initiative.
• Donating: You can make a charitable donation to Wounds Canada to support research and provide essential resources to those affected by PAD. Your generosity has the power to change lives!

An important message focusing on early diagnosis from Dr. Howard Green, president of the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA).

The Limb Preservation Alliance

In 2023 Wounds Canada joined forces with the American Limb Preservation Society, the Canadian Podiatric Medical Association, CariWN and D-Foot International to establish an alliance to address the global challenge of PAD and to promote and advocate for limb preservation. The alliance aligns with Wounds Canada’s mission to build a healthier Canada by advancing skin health and excellence in wound management.

Donating: You can make a charitable donation to Wounds Canada to support research and provide essential resources to those affected by PAD. Your generosity has the power to change lives!