5 Common Risk Factors for PAD — and How You Can Protect Your Health
Aug 20, 2025
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a circulation problem that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, making it painful or difficult to walk.
But PAD isn’t just about leg pain. It’s also a warning sign of widespread arterial disease that can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
September is PAD Awareness Month, and our team at Rios Healthcare Associates in Houston and Sugar Land is helping Texans understand what raises their risk and how to prevent PAD.
Here, Dr. Tomas Rios and Dr. Nicolin Neal look at five common risk factors for PAD and how to stay ahead of them.
Smoking is the top risk factor for PAD — and it’s the most preventable. The chemicals in cigarettes can easily damage the lining of your arteries, promote plaque buildup, and reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood.
Smoking also increases inflammation, making it harder for blood to flow freely to your legs and feet.
Even occasional smoking can raise your risk significantly. If you smoke or have a history of smoking, your chances of developing PAD go up dramatically.
If you have diabetes, you’re at a much higher risk of PAD due to chronic high blood sugar, which can damage your blood vessels. You’re also more likely to develop atherosclerosis (plaque buildup), which can lead to PAD.
Compounding the issue, nerve damage from diabetes can dull the symptoms of PAD, making it harder to detect until significant complications arise.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, forces your arteries to work harder than they should. Over time, this extra pressure can damage artery walls and speed up the process of plaque buildup. It also puts added stress on your heart and vascular system.
Coupled with other risk factors like smoking or diabetes, hypertension can significantly increase your PAD risk.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance your body needs in small amounts. But too much LDL (“bad”) cholesterol contributes to the formation of plaque inside your arteries. As the plaque thickens, it narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow — the hallmark of PAD.
High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so regular lab work is essential to detect and manage it before complications develop.
Your risk of PAD goes up with age, especially after 50. If you have a family history of PAD, heart disease, or stroke, your risk may be even higher.
While you can’t change your age or genetics, you can be proactive about screening and lifestyle choices to reduce your risk.
If you experience leg pain when walking, leg numbness or weakness, slow-healing wounds on your feet, or a noticeable drop in leg temperature compared to the rest of your body, call us. These may be early signs of PAD, and early treatment can prevent serious complications.
Dr. Rios and Dr. Neal can help you identify your risk factors and catch PAD early. Through our chronic disease management services, we offer:
If you’re at risk of PAD, don’t wait. Early detection and treatment can protect your legs — and your life.
Call Rios Healthcare Associates or request an appointment online to take the next step toward better circulation and overall health.