Peripheral Arterial Disease
What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?
With each heartbeat, blood rich in oxygen and nutrients leaves the heart and is carried through the arteries to the arms and legs to feed the muscles and other tissues. When the arteries are healthy, the smooth walls allow plenty of blood to be delivered both at rest and when exercising. The arteries can become narrowed or blocked over time due to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Plaques, sticky substances made of cholesterol, calcium and fibrous tissues, may narrow the artery channel. This process may happen in any artery, including the heart, brain or limbs. When the blood flow to the legs is slowed or blocked, either due to a narrowing or blockage, there in not enough oxygen delivery to them. This is called peripheral artery disease or PAD. Risk factors for atherosclerosis and PAD include smoking, diabetes, weight 30% over ideal, elevated blood pressure, triglycerides, or cholesterol levels, age over 50.
