Peripheral Vascular Disease (cont.)
What are complications of peripheral artery disease?
In rare cases, the decreased circulation to the
extremities characteristic of peripheral artery disease can lead to open sores that do not heal,
ulcers, gangrene, or other injuries to the extremities. These areas that do not
receive adequate blood flow are also more prone to develop infections, and in extreme cases, amputation may be necessary.
What are the other causes of peripheral vascular diseases?
A number of conditions such as vasculitis
(inflammation of the blood vessels, occurring either as a primary condition or associated with connective tissue
diseases such as lupus) may cause damage
to blood vessels throughout the body. Injuries to blood vessels (from accidents
such as auto accidents or sports injuries), blood-clotting disorders, and damage
to blood vessels during surgery
can also lead to tissue ischemia.
Tissue ischemia can also occur in the absence of
atherosclerosis or other abnormalities of arteries. One example of a condition
in which the blood vessels themselves are not damaged is
Raynaud's Disease,
which is believed to occur due to spasms in blood vessels brought on by
stress,
tobacco smoking, or a cold environment.
Since atherosclerosis of the peripheral arteries (PAD) is by far the most
common cause of peripheral vascular disease, the rest of this article focuses upon
peripheral artery disease.
Who is at risk for peripheral artery disease?
Peripheral artery disease (or peripheral arterial disease) is a common condition that affects approximately ten
million adults in the U.S. About 5% of people over the age of 50 are believed to
suffer from peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease is slightly more common in men than in women and most often
occurs in older persons (over the age of 50). The known risk factors for
peripheral artery disease are
those that predispose to the development of atherosclerosis. Risk factors for
peripheral artery disease include:
In peripheral artery disease, the risk factors are additive, so that a person with combination of
two risk factors- diabetes and smoking for example - have a more likelihood of
developing more severe peripheral artery disease than a person with only one
risk factor.
Next: What are the symptoms and signs of peripheral artery
disease? »
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