Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to any disease or disorder of the circulatory system outside of the brain and heart. It can include any disorder that affects any blood vessels. 

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a particularly dangerous form of PVD that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. 

PAD affects the arteries in your legs and puts you at higher risk of having heart attack or stroke. 

At-risk patients are those over age 50 who present at least one more vascular risk factor. 

Nearly one in five patients with PAD will experience a major cardiovascular event within one year. 

With only about one-quarter of PAD patients undergoing treatment, this disease is largely under-diagnosed and under-treated. 

Warning Signs

• Cramping, fatigue, heaviness, pain or discomfort in the legs or buttocks during and following physical activity 
• Foot wounds that won’t heal or heal very slowly 
• Noticeable decrease in the temperature of the lower leg or foot 

Patients often dismiss the symptoms or experience no symptoms at all.