What Is the Treatment for Blocked Arteries in the Legs?

What Causes Blocked Arteries in the Legs?

The main cause of blocked leg arteries is atherosclerosis. This is when fatty deposits, called plaque, build up on the walls of your arteries. As plaque builds up and hardens inside the artery, the artery narrows, restricting blood flow and reducing the amount of blood that reaches the legs and feet.

How Plaque Builds Up in Leg Arteries

Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. It forms slowly over many years. Several things can speed up this process:

• Smoking – one of the biggest risk factors for PAD
• Diabetes – damages blood vessels over time
• High blood pressure – puts extra strain on artery walls
• High cholesterol – raises the amount of plaque in the arteries
• Age – risk increases after age 50

People with diabetes or a history of smoking are at especially high risk.

What Are the Signs of a Blocked Artery in the Leg?

Many people with PAD do not have any symptoms at all, especially in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, the most common ones include:

Common Symptoms of PAD

• Leg pain or cramping when walking (this is called claudication, and it usually goes away with rest)
• Leg weakness or heaviness
• Coldness in the lower leg or foot
• Wounds on the feet or legs that are slow to heal
• Numbness or tingling in the legs

If you have any of these signs, it is worth getting checked. Learn more about how PAD is diagnosed, including the ankle-brachial index (ABI) test.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Blocked Leg Arteries

There are three main minimally invasive procedures used to treat blocked leg arteries. All three are outpatient, meaning most patients go home the same day. There are no large incisions.

Angioplasty (PTA)

Angioplasty opens a narrowed or blocked artery using a small balloon. The doctor guides a thin tube called a catheter through a tiny incision, usually in the groin. Once the catheter reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated to widen the artery and improve blood flow. The procedure typically takes 1 to 3 hours. Most patients return to light activity within a few days.²

Stent Placement

A stent is a small mesh tube. It is often used together with angioplasty. After the balloon opens the artery, the doctor may place a stent inside to help keep it open. The stent stays in place and reduces the chance of the artery narrowing again. Stents work best for blockages in the larger arteries of the leg, such as the iliac or femoral artery.³

Atherectomy

Atherectomy removes plaque directly from inside the artery. A small cutting device on the tip of the catheter shaves or breaks up the blockage. This approach may be used when the artery walls are heavily calcified, making balloon angioplasty alone less effective.

A vascular specialist can review your imaging and recommend which approach, or combination of approaches, may be right for your situation.

Can Medication Help Treat Blocked Leg Arteries?

Medication cannot remove a blockage that has already formed in a leg artery. However, it plays an important role in managing PAD symptoms and slowing its progression.

Doctors commonly recommend:

• Antiplatelet medications such as aspirin or clopidogrel, which help prevent blood clots from making a blockage worse
• Statins, which lower cholesterol and can help slow plaque buildup
• Blood pressure medications, which reduce stress on artery walls

Medication is often used alongside other treatments, not as a standalone solution for established blockages. A vascular specialist can review all your PAD treatment options and how they apply to your situation.

When Should You See a Vascular Specialist?

If you have leg pain when you walk that goes away with rest, do not wait. That pattern is called intermittent claudication, and it is one of the most common signs of PAD.

You should also see a specialist if:

• You have cold or numb feet and legs that do not improve
• You have a sore or wound on your foot or leg that is not healing
• You have risk factors for PAD such as diabetes, a history of smoking, or high blood pressure

Early evaluation can help prevent PAD from getting worse. You can also assess your PAD risk using our online tool.