Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs - Cause
The most common cause of
peripheral arterial disease is the buildup of
plaque on the inside of arteries. Plaque is made up of
excess
cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in your
bloodstream that, over time, build up along the inner walls of the arteries,
including the arteries that feed your legs. The plaque deposits decrease the
space through which oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood can flow. Poor blood flow
"starves" the muscles and other tissues in the lower body. See a picture of
peripheral arterial disease of the legs 
.
This process of plaque
buildup-called
atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries"-usually
happens throughout the body, including the leg arteries,
coronary arteries, and
carotid arteries.
Atherosclerosis
gradually develops over a lifetime. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and
smoking contribute to atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease. For more
information on risk factors, see the What Increases Your Risk section of this
topic. See pictures of
atherosclerosis and
how high blood pressure damages arteries .
In very rare cases, peripheral arterial disease can be unrelated to atherosclerosis and caused instead by inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) and old injuries that damaged blood vessels.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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