Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease

Pay attention to your feet and treat them well. If you are experiencing changes to your feet it’s probably a good idea to schedule an appointment with Dr. Praya Mam. He is an expert if treating individuals who may have peripheral artery disease and keep it from advancing it from getting serious.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Causes of peripheral artery disease can come from several different factors but, the single biggest controllable cause, based on current research is smoking. Other factors that raise the risk significantly are high blood sugar from diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. The single best way to beat these factors is by changing your lifestyle. Exercise and walking are extremely important, and walking distance will improve with work. Obviously, smoking is non-negotiable. Also, eating from around the edge of the supermarket from the fresh foods and fish, and daily exercise, are the best ways to prevent PAD from forming before it becomes a problem.

 

In this video, Dr. Praya Mam  discusses the causes of peripheral artery disease. Smoking, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, and High Blood Pressure.

He goes on to explain that cigarette smoking contains nicotine which is a vascular constrictor which causes the artery to become narrower. In addition, smoking causes hardening of the artery. Therefore, it causes the blood not to flow very well to your feet and legs.

Diabetes is another major cause of peripheral arterial disease because high glucose levels in your blood creates damage in the vessel wall with build up of plaque. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) happens when this buildup on the walls of blood vessels causes them to narrow. It commonly affects people with type 2 diabetes, who are also prone to high cholesterol and heart disease.

 

Your Feet Can Give Health Warnings

  • Swelling in your feet or ankles may indicate high blood pressure
  • If you have cold feet you may have a circulation issue or a thyroid problem
  • Numbness or tingling may indicate diabetes
  • Hair loss, patchy spots or changes in nail or skin color may indicate poor circulation
  • Foot cramps or spasms may signal dietary deficiencies, overwork or something more serious
  • Sore toe joints may be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis
  • Pitted toenails may signal arthritis or psoriasis

Pay attention to your feet and treat them well. If you are experiencing changes to your feet it’s probably a good idea to schedule an appointment with Dr. Praya Mam. He is an expert if treating individuals who may have peripheral artery disease and keep it from advancing it from getting serious.