What happens if PAD is left untreated?

What Happens If PAD Is Left Untreated?

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) might start with subtle symptoms—like leg pain when walking—but ignoring it can lead to severe consequences. When left untreated, the narrowed arteries that define PAD continue to restrict blood flow, especially to the legs and feet. Over time, this can progress to critical limb ischemia, a condition where pain occurs even at rest and wounds heal poorly, raising the risk of infection and, in extreme cases, amputation.