Peripheral Arterial Disease—Atherosclerosis

Also called: Arteriosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your body.

Atherosclerosis can lead to serious problems, including

Coronary artery disease. These arteries supply blood to your heart. When they are blocked, you can suffer angina or a heart attack.
Carotid artery disease. These arteries supply blood to your brain. When they are blocked you can suffer a stroke.
Peripheral arterial disease. These arteries are in your arms, legs and pelvis. When they are blocked, you can suffer from numbness, pain and sometimes infections.

Atherosclerosis usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it severely narrows or totally blocks an artery. Many people don’t know they have it until they have a medical emergency.

A physical exam, imaging, and other diagnostic tests can tell if you have it. Medicines can slow the progress of plaque buildup. Your doctor may also recommend procedures such as angioplasty to open the arteries, or surgery on the coronary or carotid arteries. Lifestyle changes can also help. These include following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Angioplasty and stent placement – peripheral arteries (Medical Encyclopedia)
Arteriogram (Medical Encyclopedia)
Doppler ultrasound exam of an arm or leg (Medical Encyclopedia)
Extremity angiography (Medical Encyclopedia)
Hardening of the arteries (Medical Encyclopedia)
How Is Atherosclerosis Treated? – NIH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Magnetic resonance angiography (Medical Encyclopedia)
What Is Atherosclerosis? – NIH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Also called: PAD

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) happens when there is a narrowing of the blood vessels outside of your heart. The cause of PAD is atherosclerosis. This happens when plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. Plaque is a substance made up of fat and cholesterol. It causes the arteries to narrow or become blocked. This can reduce or stop blood flow, usually to the legs. If severe enough, blocked blood flow can cause tissue death and can sometimes lead to amputation of the foot or leg.

The main risk factor for PAD is smoking. Other risk factors include older age and diseases like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Many people who have PAD don’t have any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include

Pain, numbness, achiness, or heaviness in the leg muscles. This happens when walking or climbing stairs.
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 color to the skin
A lower temperature in one leg than the other leg
Poor nail growth on the toes and decreased hair growth on the legs
Erectile dysfunction, especially among men who have diabetes

PAD can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and transient ischemic attack.

Doctors diagnose PAD with a physical exam and heart and imaging tests. Treatments include lifestyle changes, medicines, and sometimes surgery. Lifestyle changes include dietary changes, exercise, and efforts to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute