Peripheral Artery Disease (P.A.D.)

Frequently Asked Questions

4. What are the risk factors for P.A.D.?

Smoking is the main risk factor for P.A.D. Your risk of P.A.D. increases if you smoke or have a history of smoking.

Older age is also a risk factor for P.A.D. Older age combined with other risk factors, such as smoking or diabetes, also puts you at higher risk. The disease is more common in African Americans than any other racial or ethnic group.

In addition, many diseases and conditions can raise your risk for P.A.D., including diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

(Watch the video to learn more about risk factors for P.A.D. To enlarge the video, click the brackets in the lower right-hand corner. To reduce the video, press the Escape (Esc) button on your keyboard.)