Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a slow and progressive
circulation disorder. It may involve disease in any of the blood
vessels outside of the heart and diseases of the lymph vessels –
the arteries, veins or lymphatic vessels. Organs supplied by
these vessels – such as the brain, heart, and legs – may not
receive adequate blood flow for ordinary function. However, the
legs and feet are most commonly affected, thus the name
peripheral artery disease. The terms “peripheral artery
disease,” “peripheral vascular disease” and “peripheral arterial
disease” are often used interchangeably. In the United States,
about 10 million people have peripheral artery disease. It is
frequently found in people with coronary artery disease, because
atherosclerosis, which causes coronary artery disease, is a
widespread disease of the arteries. There are two main goals for
treatment of PAD: control the symptoms and halt the progression
of the disease to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and
other complications. A common tr