10 Unseen Culprits Behind Peripheral Vascular Disease: A Riveting Roadmap

7. "Bad" Cholesterol Overload (Dyslipidemia): The Master Plaque Architect

Think of persistently high levels of LDL ('bad') cholesterol and triglycerides, often coupled with low HDL ('good') cholesterol, as providing the prime building materials for PVD's destructive architecture. This imbalance, known medically as dyslipidemia, allows excess fats to infiltrate and accumulate within artery walls, forming the hardened core of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques progressively narrow, stiffen, and can eventually block arteries throughout your body, including those crucial for supplying your limbs. Actively managing cholesterol through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medication is critical in preventing these "plaque architects" from constricting your vital blood pathways.