Understanding Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): Causes & Treatment

Peripheral artery disease affects your arteries in the extremities of your body, especially your feet and legs, and can cause serious health complications if left untreated. Symptoms of peripheral artery disease include poor circulation in your legs and sores that do not heal, but it can be treated with lifestyle changes and medication. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Mayo Clinic, causes of peripheral artery disease include lifestyle factors and metabolic disorders.

Atherosclerosis

• Atherosclerosis is a medical term for the buildup of plaque inside of your arteries and is the most common cause of getting peripheral artery disease.

Diabetes

• If you have diabetes, especially if your condition has not been well controlled, peripheral artery disease may result from damage caused by high levels of sugar in your blood.

Obesity

• If you have a body mass index (BMI) that is greater than 30, your heart may be unable to pump enough blood through your arteries, resulting in peripheral artery disease.

Personal Habits

• Smoking tobacco or using alcohol to excess, especially over a long period of time, can cause you to develop peripheral artery disease as a result of direct damage to your arteries.

Metabolic Disorders

• Abnormal levels of certain proteins in your blood, including homocysteine and C-reactive protein, can cause peripheral artery disease as a result of chronic inflammation of your arteries.

Chronic Conditions

• If you have chronically high blood pressure or cholesterol, especially "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, you may develop peripheral artery disease.