What causes peripheral artery disease?
PAD may happen when the artery becomes narrowed, weakened, or blocked. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is the most common cause of PAD. This usually occurs when fatty deposits, called plaques, build up along the walls of your arteries. The following changes in the arteries are other possible causes of PAD: Abnormal development: This means that your artery may have grown abnormally, such as with a condition called fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). With FMD, artery walls in the kidneys thicken, making the artery narrow.Aneurysms: These are small sac-like pouches that bulge outward through weak spots in the wall of an artery. These may form due to increased pressure inside the artery. They may later rupture (burst) and cause bleeding.Inflammation: The condition where the arteries become inflamed (swollen) is called arteritis. This may be due to an infection or weak immune system. The immune system is the part of your body that fights infection. A problem with the immune system so
