If you have not heard of peripheral artery disease, or PAD, you are not alone. While clinicians and health organizations have made headway in raising awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death worldwide, PAD - despite being part of cardiovascular disease - is not as well-known.
PAD affects 8-10 million people in the U.S., most over the age of 65. But it also affects younger people who have additional risk factors, such as diabetes, smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.
Peripheral artery disease involves the lower limbs, but it has its basis in atherosclerosis - a vascular disease where cholesterol plaque builds up in artery walls. This narrows the arteries, restricting circulation and possibly resulting in plaque breaking loose and forming a blood clot. Most patients with PAD will have vascular disease in more than one defined area, increasing the chances of serious complications.
Watch: Dr. Amy Pollak talks about peripheral artery disease.
