Peripheral Arterial Diseases

Peripheral artery disease, the clogging or narrowing of arteries in the legs due to plaque buildup, affects some 10 million Americans. PAD comes on gradually, causing decreased blood flow in the legs and pain when walking.

Left untreated, PAD can result in serious health conditions, including gangrene in the affected limbs and even amputation. Also, if the arteries in the legs are blocked, people are most likely to also experience blocked arteries in other parts of their bodies, such as the arteries supplying blood to the heart, intestines, abdomen, and brain.

This buildup of plaque is called atherosclerosis -- often called "hardening of the arteries" accounts for more death in the United States than any other cause, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology.

Screening for and treatment of PAD is essential to your health.

Learn more about PAD from SIR.