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PAD restricts blood from getting to your extremities. It can cause discoloration of your feet or legs, swelling in your legs, numbness, tingling, pain, sores or cuts that don’t heal, and difficulty walking.
If left untreated, restricted blood flow from PAD can be fatal. It is also often a warning sign for other conditions since having blocked arteries in your legs means that you most likely have blocked arteries elsewhere in your body. Having PAD means that you may be at higher risk for amputation, stroke, and heart attack.
If you experience any symptoms of PAD, Dignity Health offers an extensive network of expert cardiologists to help you treat and manage them.
Since PAD reduces blood flow to your legs and feet, you often can see the signs, as the skin on your lower legs may look bluish from a lack of oxygen. You also may experience the following symptoms:
Peripheral artery disease results from a narrowing of the vessels that carry blood to your arms and legs. Many conditions can cause PAD, but the most common cause is atherosclerosis (or a buildup of plaque inside artery walls).
High cholesterol, aging, diabetes, and smoking can also lead to or worsen PAD.
PAD can be either occlusive or functional. Some types of PAD are mostly cosmetic, such as varicose veins. Others are potentially life-threatening and can increase your chance of stroke or limb loss.
Occlusive PAD stems from blocked vessels and usually results from conditions such as:
Functional PAD occurs when the blood vessels are not blocked, but they malfunction by spasming. Functional PAD is often made worse by stress, smoking, or cold, and can be triggered by these conditions:
The following are common risk factors associated with PAD:
If one or more of the above describes you, you may be at higher risk for PAD.
Changing your lifestyle can also help prevent complications and reduce your risk of developing PAD: