Eight million people 40 and older in the U.S. are padding around with PAD (peripheral arterial disease), in which arteries — usually in the legs and feet — suffer a buildup of plaque.

Unfortunately, only about 25% of people with PAD admit to themselves they're experiencing early symptoms such as calf, foot, thigh, or butt pain. As a result, PAD often goes undiagnosed until it causes severe problems, such as changes to skin and nails' texture and appearance, "pins and needles" in your leg or foot, pain when not moving, and hard-to-heal sores on toes, feet, and legs.

Risk factors include inactivity, smoking, poor nutrition, obesity, diabetes, elevated LDL cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

You can be diagnosed by determining your ankle brachial index — a noninvasive test that measures blood pressure in your ankles and compares it with the blood pressure in your arms.

An MRI or ultrasound can also identify areas of atherosclerosis in your peripheral arteries.

If you are diagnosed, you can reduce your risk for serious complications such as stroke by adopting heart-healthy habits, getting recommended exercise (walking a few steps more each day works for my patients to gain miraculous changes in quality of life and risk), taking antihypertensives, statins, and meds that reduce clotting risks.

Sometimes a stent or an artery-to-vein bypass provides relief.

If you're at risk or have symptoms, ask your doctor for a checkup for PAD, so you can stay as active and mobile as possible, with reduced cardiovascular risks.