Key Points

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when a fatty material called plaque builds up on the inside walls of the arteries that carry blood to the limbs.
• PAD is a common, yet serious disease.
• PAD affects 8 to 12 million people in the United States. An estimated 5 percent of U.S. adults over age 50 have PAD. Among adults age 65 and older, 12 to 20 percent may have PAD.
• PAD can impair physical health and diminish a person's ability to walk.
• People with PAD have an increased risk for heart attack.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of PAD are important to prevent disability and save lives.
• PAD screening for individuals at high risk is very important.
• PAD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, and/or surgery and special procedures.
• Treatment often includes making long-lasting lifestyle changes, including quitting smoking, lowering high blood pressure, lowering high cholesterol levels, and lowering blood glucose levels if you are diabetic.
• PAD treatment may stop the disease from progressing and reduce the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
• Surgery may be necessary to supply more blood flow to the leg if a person has severe symptoms.