Heart > Vascular Diseases > Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease

	This image from an angiogram shows no blood flow within the superficial femoral artery.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition that causes poor circulation in the legs, occurs when there is not enough blood flow through arteries to parts of the body. The most common cause is atherosclerosis, a process in which deposits called plaque build up in arteries, decreasing blood flow. Left untreated, PAD increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, amputation, or death.

Risk factors

Although atherosclerosis may occur at any age, it is more common in people over age 45 and people with a family history of heart disease. These are risk factors you can’t control. Risk factors you can control include:

• smoking
• high blood cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• obesity
• physical inactivity

More information

For more information about PAD, visit the Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition's Web site.