When someone has peripheral arterial disease (PAD), what causes pain with walking?

Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is caused by the same general risk factors as cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. This leads to build up of narrowing of the arteries, which reduces the size of the opening of the leg artery and then when you start walking your muscles kind of cramp up. You get a tiredness or cramping or discomfort in the legs with walking. This actually leads to people actually walking less. They, you, start living your life in a box. That leads to worsening high blood pressure, worsening diabetes, and it’s a never ending cycle.