Outlook

If you have peripheral artery disease your risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and transient ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”) is six to seven times greater than the risk for people who don’t have P.A.D. If you have heart disease, you have a 1 in 3 chance of having blocked leg arteries.

Although Peripheral Artery Disease is serious, it’s treatable. If you have the disease, it’s important to see your cardiologist regularly and treat the underlying atherosclerosis.

P.A.D. treatment may slow or stop disease progress and reduce the risk of complications. Treatments include lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgery or procedures. Researchers continue to explore new therapies for peripheral artery disease.

Other Names for Peripheral Arterial Disease

• Atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Vascular disease
• Hardening of the arteries
• Claudication
• Poor circulation
• Leg cramps from poor circulation

The most common cause of peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) is atherosclerosis. The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn't known.

The disease may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. These factors include:

• Smoking

• High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood

• High blood pressure

• High amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes

When damage occurs, your body starts a healing process. The healing may cause plaque to build up where the arteries are damaged.

Over time, the plaque may crack. Blood cell fragments called platelets stick to the injured lining of the artery and may clump together to form blood clots. The buildup of plaque or blood clots can severely narrow or block the arteries and limit the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your body.