Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of peripheral artery disease. Two problems can happen:
- Plaques can grow big enough to reduce or block blood flow through the artery.
- Plaques can break into pieces, causing a blood clot to form in the artery. These clots can reduce or completely block blood flow.
Risk Factors
Peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease have many of the same risk factors, including:
- Tobacco use
- Diabetes
- Age 70 or older
- Male sex
- Black race
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
Smoking and diabetes are the strongest risk factors.
Last Updated March 2023