Is peripheral artery disease (PAD) dangerous?

Yes. PAD is a condition similar to coronary artery disease and carotid artery disease. (Coronary artery disease is the name for fatty buildups in the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood and nourishment. Carotid artery disease is the name for fatty buildups in the neck artery that brings blood to the brain.)

In PAD, fatty deposits build up in the inner lining of artery walls. These blockages restrict blood circulation, mainly in arteries leading to the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs, and feet. Left untreated, PAD can lead to gangrene and amputation of limbs. People with PAD often have fatty buildups in the arteries of the heart and brain, but PAD may be their first sign. Most patients with PAD have a higher risk of death from stroke and heart attack. If a blood clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery to the heart, a heart attack results. A stroke results, if the clot blocks an artery to the brain.