What does PAD put you at a higher risk of?

• A. CVA and MI
• B. DVT
• C. Peripheral neuropathy
• D. Lymphedema

Answer: (A)

Peripheral arterial disease reflects widespread atherosclerosis in the arteries. Because the same disease process and risk factors drive plaque buildup in the major vessels, having PAD indicates a high burden of atherosclerosis overall, which raises the likelihood of cerebrovascular events (stroke) and myocardial infarction. In other words, PAD is a marker that the arteries in the heart and brain are also at risk, not just the leg arteries. The other conditions—deep vein thrombosis, peripheral neuropathy, and lymphedema—are not primarily caused by the same arterial disease pattern, so they’re not the best fit for describing the increased risk PAD confers.