Peripheral artery disease is usually caused by atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, most likely in the limbs. This affects all the arteries in the body, so in turn slows blood flow. PAD can also be due to inflammation of the blood vessels, injury to the extremities, or even radiation exposure. “Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately 10% of the American population” (Gurbir Dhaliwal; Peripheral Arterial Disease: Epidemiology, Natural History, Diagnosis, and Treatment; 2007). If left untreated, PAD can lead to critical limb ischemia, open wounds on the feet or legs that become infected with gangrene. The gangrene is then surgically removed, but doctors may have to amputate all of the extremities. Another problem that comes with PAD if it is not controlled is the risk of stroke or heart attack. These can cause part of the heart or brain to die, or even death itself. The population most at risk would be those who are smokers, diabetics, obese, those with hypertension or hyperlipidemia, over the age of 50, with a family history of PAD or with a high homocysteine ​​level. If someone falls into some of these categories, a doctor may run some tests to check for PAD. Your doctor will most likely start with a physical exam, a blood test, and possibly an ultrasound. From there your doctor may try an ankle-brachial index, or ABI, which compares blood pressure in your feet to blood pressure in your arm. “An American survey of 2174 patients over the age of 40 used the ankle-brachial index (ABI) as a screening tool and showed a prevalence of PAD of 0.9% between the ages of 40 and 49, of 2 .5% between the ages of 40 and 40. 50 and 59 years old, ...... middle of paper ...... some could be combined with other hearing diseases or could be specifically PAD. Facebook is a new social media site on the Internet that many people enjoy visiting, and it can also be used as a tool to connect and find support for this condition. On www.facebook.com/PeripheralArteryDisease there is a page that talks about other people's experiences, signs and symptoms, real life stories of others with PAD. Peripheral artery disease can be painful and difficult to live with, but there are many opportunities to decrease its severity and possibly be able to reduce symptoms all together. Works Cited • Dhaliwal, Gurbir; (2007); Peripheral arterial disease: epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis and treatment; www.nih.gov• Anonymous authors; (present); www.facebook.com/PeripheralAteryDisease • Mayo Clinic staff; (2012); Peripheral artery disease (PAD); www.mayoclinic.com