Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the arms, legs, or abdomen. The narrowing is usually caused by the accumulation of plaque along the walls of the blood vessels.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for peripheral artery disease are the same as for coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries bringing blood to the heart muscle):

• Stress
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Increasing age
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of PAD
• Diet high in saturated fats and other unhealthy diet choices

Certain other medical conditions can also add to your risk of developing PAD.

• A fib
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Heart failure
• Vascular dementia
• High blood pressure
• Chronic kidney disease
• High homocysteine levels
• High cholesterol or triglycerides
• Conditions that cause blood clots

Preeclampsia or gestational diabetes during pregnancy will also increase your risk of developing peripheral artery disease.

Diagnosis

Talk to your doctor if you have any peripheral artery disease symptoms.

Your doctor will 

• ask questions about your medical history, family history, risk factors, and symptoms
• perform a physical assessment
• check the pulses in your arms and legs
• listen to the blood flow with a stethoscope
• examine your legs and feet for sores, swelling, or discoloration
• perform an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test to compare your blood pressure in your upper and lower extremities using a blood pressure cuff and an ultrasound machine
• draw blood samples for tests

Your doctor may also order tests and scans such as 

• an exercise ABI test after exercising on a treadmill
• a 6-minute walking test
• An angiogram
• doppler tests
• an MRA
• a CTA

Treatment

Ask your doctor about getting tested for peripheral artery disease if you have symptoms. If you are diagnosed with PAD, your doctor may recommend treatments such as:

• Medicine to prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure or blood sugar, and prevent the arteries from narrowing
• Thrombolytic therapy to prevent blood clots
• Medicine for the pain 
• Angioplasty to open arteries, possibly stents
• Bypass surgery to circumvent a blocked artery and restore circulation to the leg

Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of developing PAD, prevent complications or reduce symptoms.

•  Exercise to help increase movement and circulation, increase your ability to perform daily tasks, and improve your quality of life.
• Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Quit smoking.

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Sources:

Mayo Clinic. (2022). Peripheral artery disease (PAD) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

CDC. (2021). Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) | cdc.gov

AHA. (2021). About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) | American Heart Association

NIH. (2022). Peripheral Artery Disease - What Is Peripheral Artery Disease? | NHLBI, NIH