Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects blood circulation, primarily in the lower extremities. It occurs when arteries narrow due to plaque buildup, restricting blood flow to the legs. One of the common symptoms of PAD is leg pain, which can be particularly troublesome at night.
How PAD Causes Leg Pain
The painful symptoms of PAD affect the lower body from the hip down to the calves. Claudication pain develops during exercise, such as walking and climbing, but disappears once you rest. As PAD advances, people with the condition feel pain at night and during rest, which seriously affects their daily lives.
Leg Pain at Rest and Critical Limb Ischemia
If you’re experiencing leg pain while at rest, especially during the night, you may have a more advanced form of PAD called critical limb ischemia (CLI). CLI occurs when blood flow to the lower extremities is restricted, leading to intense pain in the feet and toes. Left untreated, CLI can cause non-healing sores and ulcers, increasing the risk of amputation.
How PAD Affects Sleep
Depending on the severity of PAD, it can disrupt sleep in several ways:
Pain Disrupting Sleep
People with mild PAD usually do not experience sleep problems with their condition. With severe PAD, pain continues to bother patients while they try to sleep.
A tingling feeling in their feet or toes startles some people during their nighttime sleep. People often rest by placing their legs down on the edge of the bed because this position lets gravity help blood move better through their lower legs.
Sleep Apnea and PAD
There is a clear link between PAD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea is when breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, causing frequent awakenings.
People with PAD who also suffer from sleep apnea may experience worsened symptoms, as the lack of oxygen can lead to further artery damage. This, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and worsening PAD.
Restless Leg Syndrome and PAD
Studies reveal that PAD and Restless Leg Syndrome commonly appear together yet do not directly cause each other. People with RLS must constantly move their legs without control because of the condition, especially during nighttime hours. PAD and RLS do not lead to each other, yet they overlap frequently, which makes sleeping difficult for patients.
Risks of Sleep Disruption Due to PAD
Consistently losing sleep due to PAD-related pain can have serious health consequences, as sleep deprivation has been linked to conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, diabetes, obesity, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Persistent leg pain that disrupts sleep should not be ignored, as it may lead to severe complications, including non-healing wounds and infections that could result in amputation. If you experience ongoing discomfort, you must consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Managing PAD and Improving Sleep Quality
While PAD is a serious condition, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms and improve your sleep:
Engage in Regular Exercise
Walking is an effective way to manage PAD better than any other treatment. Under the doctor’s guidance, patients should start exercising to develop new routes for blood flow circulation. Light pain at first does not need to stop you from walking since continued exercise builds endurance and decreases leg pain.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help prevent further plaque buildup in the arteries. Reducing saturated fats, processed foods, and excessive salt intake can also improve vascular health.
Manage Underlying Conditions
PAD becomes more severe when someone has both diabetes and high blood pressure along with high cholesterol. Monitoring your health status alongside taking medicines and changing lifestyle habits helps to avoid PAD problems.
Improve Sleep Hygiene
If PAD-related pain is disrupting your sleep, consider the following strategies:
● Elevate your legs slightly to improve circulation.
● Use a warm compress to relax the muscles and ease pain
● Avoid caffeine and heavy meals before bedtime.
● Create a comfortable sleep environment with minimal distractions.
Seeking Medical Attention
You should not dismiss ongoing pain that still bothers you while resting. Regular nighttime wakeups because of pain require you to consult a doctor about your condition. A doctor will test your symptoms to decide if they come from PAD or another health problem. Such discussions with your doctor will let you find better ways to handle sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome together.
Conclusion
PAD produces leg pain at night, especially during its late development stages. The pain from this condition makes it hard to sleep well and raises your chance of health problems. Getting medical help through exercise and healthy living can reduce leg pain and enhance your sleep. See a doctor to find the treatments for your nighttime leg pain and protect your future health.
