Diseases and Conditions
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Alternative medicine
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and home remedies
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of developing peripheral artery disease include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity (a body mass index over 30)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Increasing age, especially after age 65 or after 50 if you have risk factors for atherosclerosis
- A family history of peripheral artery disease, heart disease or stroke
- High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that helps your body make protein and to build and maintain tissue
People who smoke or have diabetes have the greatest risk of developing peripheral artery disease due to reduced blood flow.
