Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when there is a narrowing or occlusion of the peripheral arteries, resulting in reduced blood flow to the leg (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2015). This can lead to limb ischaemia and thrombosis. Patients with PAD have a reduced quality of life and are at risk of lower limb amputation and even death. This article addresses the need for early diagnosis of PAD to reduce the burden of the condition to patients and the NHS, and to try and reduce the number of lower limb amputations that occur in the UK every day. Promoting healthy arteries will raise awareness of the risk factors associated with PAD and encourage the population in the risk categories to be proactive in receiving ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) assessment. Healthcare professionals with improved knowledge of PAD will be better able to identify patients in the early stages of the disease and to advise them about lifestyle changes to improve their prognosis.
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