Peripheral Artery Disease (also termed peripheral arterial disease) is a general circulatory problem in which contracted or narrowed arteries diminish blood flow to your limbs.

When you have developed peripheral artery disease, your extremities – generally your legs – don’t get sufficient blood flow to keep up with demand.

Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.) is a disease in which plaque made up in the arteries that bring to your limbs, organs and head. Plaque is build up of cholesterol, fat, fibrous tissue, calcium and other substances in the blood.

When plaque made up in the body’s arteries, this condition is called atherosclerosis. After a while, plaque can narrow and harden the arteries. This bounds the flow of oxygen-affluent to your limbs and other parts of your body.

P.A.D. generally affects the arteries in the legs, but it can affect the arteries as well which carry blood from your heart to your head, kidneys, stomach and arms. Peripheral artery disease is also probable to be a sign of a more extensive buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition might be decreasing blood flow to your brain and heart, as well as your legs.

Blocked blood flow to your legs can lead pain and numbness. It also can increase the risk of getting an infection in the affected organs. Your body might have a tough time to fight the infection.

If acute enough, blocked blood flow can be the reason of tissue death (gangrene). In very severe cases, it can lead to leg amputation.

Often, you can effectively treat peripheral artery disease by exercising, eating healthy diet and quitting tobacco.

Peripheral Artery Disease Symptoms:

While several people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) have mild or no symptoms, some have leg pain while walking (claudication).

Claudication symptoms consist of cramping or muscle pain in your arms or legs that are stimulated by activity like walking but disappear after a little rest. The position of the pain depends on the position of narrowed or clogged artery. Calf pain is the very common position.

Some Other Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease

1. Painful cramping in your thigh, calf muscles and hip after certain activities, like climbing stairs or walking
2. Sores on your feet, legs or toes that won’t heal
3. Leg weakness or numbness
4. A change in the color of your legs
5. Coldness in your foot or lower leg, mainly when compared with the other side
6. Slower enlargement of your toenails
7. Hair loss or slower hair growth on your legs and feet
8. Erectile dysfunction in men
9. Weak pulse or no pulse in your legs or feet

Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease

The common cause of PAD is atherosclerosis. The exact cause of atherosclerosis isn’t known.

The disease may start if some factors damage the internal layers of arteries. These factors contain:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High amounts of some fats and cholesterol in the blood
• High amounts of sugar in the blood because of insulin resistance or diabetes

When injure occurs, your body starts a curative process. The curing may cause plaque to increase where the arteries are damaged. Eventually, a part of plaque can rupture, causing a blood clot to form at the site. The creation of blood clots or plaque can severely narrow or block the arteries and limit the flow of oxygen-loaded blood to your body.