PAD is a disease of plaque buildup in your arteries. The plaque in your leg arteries causing problems could also be building up in other arteries of your body, such as in your heart (which could lead to heart disease) or your carotid arteries (which could lead to stroke). So the blockages in your leg can cause symptoms only in your leg, but they may be a warning sign that you have similar blockages elsewhere, and this may be the signal to have those other arteries checked.