What Is Peripheral Artery Disease? What Causes Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels located outside the heart and brain. Peripheral artery disease is also known as peripheral vascular disease or peripheral heart disease. This disease affects the blood vessels outside the brain and heart, causing them to narrow and restricting the blood flow to the arms, legs, kidneys or stomach. The part of the body that is most often affected is the legs. Peripheral heart disease is often a sign of widespread atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. About 10 million people in the United States have peripheral vascular disease, which translates to about 5% of people older than 50 years. There are different types of heart disease, each with its own symptoms and risks. Peripheral heart disease is a huge risk factor for heart attack and stroke. It is more common in African-Americans than any other ethnic or racial group.
