Peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D.) occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs, and limbs. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. When plaque builds up in arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. Over time, plaque can harden and narrow the arteries.
This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body. P.A.D. usually affects the legs, but also can affect the arteries that carry blood from your heart to your head, arms, kidneys, and stomach. Of the peripheral arteries, those of the legs are most often affected. Other arteries frequently affected by atherosclerosis include those supplying blood to the kidneys or arms.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, numbness, aching, or heaviness in the leg muscles.
- Weak or absent pulses in the legs or feet
- Sores or wounds on the toes, feet, or legs that heal slowly, poorly, or not at all
- A pale or bluish colour to the skin
- A lower temperature in one leg compared to the other leg
- Poor nail growth on the toes and decreased hair growth on the legs
- Erectile dysfunction, especially among men who have diabetes
What causes peripheral arterial disease?
The disease may start when certain factors damage the inner layers of the arteries. These factors include smoking, age, high amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high amounts of sugar in the blood due to insulin resistance or diabetes.
It is thought that there is also a strong genetic predisposition to developing peripheral arterial disease and a family history of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, heart disease and stroke will also predispose you to the development of this condition.