Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is damage to the arteries outside of the heart and brain. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues. Problems with the arteries can affect the health of tissue in the body.
If PAD is not treated, it can lead to problems like tissue death, infection, and amputation . Things that cause PAD can also harm blood vessels in the heart and brain. This means people with PAD are at risk for heart attack and stroke .
PAD Causes
Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of PAD. This is a build up of plaque on the walls of the blood vessels. Plaque is a waxy matter made of fats and other matter in the blood. It sticks to the walls. It can also be made of scar tissue or fibers used to fix damage to the walls. Over time, plaque grows by trapping other matter in the blood, such as bad cholesterol and blood glucose. As it grows, the blood vessel gets narrow and makes it harder for blood to flow.
Atherosclerosis |
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References
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). American Heart Association website. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/peripheral-artery-disease. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/PAD.htm. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of lower extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-lower-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) of upper extremities. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peripheral-artery-disease-pad-of-upper-extremities. Accessed March 24, 2022.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 03/24/2022