Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
The major cause of peripheral vascular disease is hardening of the arteries. It is most often seen in patients over 40 years of age. The first symptom is usually an aching, tired feeling in the leg muscles when walking. It occurs most often in the calf, but may be in the thigh. The pain is relieved by resting, but returns after the same amount of walking.