[A] simple test of blood pressure at the ankle can detect asymptomatic PAD [peripheral arterial disease], giving patients a chance to reduce their risk.
Heart disease risk goes way up in people who have suffered strokes or TIAs. That risk is even greater in people who also have PAD, a sign that plaque is clogging the arteries.
Should everyone rush out and get their blood pressure checked at their ankles? No. However, as the article notes, "But it is advised for people at high risk of PAD." When in doubt, ask your doctor.(Image from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
