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		Search Text: Peripheral Artery Disease
Home< Back ToHealth TopicsPeripheral Artery Disease

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    Home< Back ToHealth TopicsPeripheral Artery Disease

  What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
                                                  
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          Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery DiseaseWhat Is Peripheral Artery Disease?

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grandmother walking with two grandchildrenIn the United States, more than 8 million people ages 40 and older have peripheral artery disease, or PAD.Also called peripheral arterial disease, PAD is caused byatherosclerosis, orplaquebuildup, that reduces the flow of blood in peripheral arteries — the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body. This health topic focuses on the most common type of PAD, called “lowerextremityPAD,” which reduces blood flow to the legs and feet.

You may have lower extremity PAD if you have muscle pain or weakness that begins with physical activity, such as walking, and stops within minutes after resting. About 1 in 4 people who have PAD experience these symptoms. But you may experience othersymptomsor no symptoms at all. If you smoke or have high blood pressure or otherrisk factorsfor PAD, even without symptoms, ask your healthcare provider aboutgetting tested. It is important to be aware that if you have lower extremity PAD, you may also have plaque buildup in other arteries leading to and from your heart and brain, putting you at higher risk ofstrokeorheart attack.

Early diagnosis andmanagement of PADcan help treat your symptoms and reduce your risk forserious complications.
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