Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD): Symptoms and Treatment

What is peripheral vascular disease?

Narrowing of arteries supplying the intestines, kidneys, legs, and arms. The narrowing is caused due to deposition of cholesterol in the wall of blood vessels (Atherosclerosis).

Patients with PVD have 7 times more risk of heart attack and stroke, so it is necessary for patients with PVD to get screened for CAD (heart disease) and Carotid artery disease.

What are the symptoms of PVD?

The symptoms are caused due to decreased blood circulation to the peripheries.

• Coldness of hands/feet
• Pain in the legs or arms at rest
• Tingling or burning sensation
• Blackening(gangrene) or bluish discoloration in the toes /fingers
• Ulceration on the feet that fail to heal
• Thin brittle shiny skin with lack of hair
• Absent or feeble peripheral pulses

What are the risk factors?

• Age more than 55yrs
• Males more than females
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High blood cholesterol.
• High blood pressure

How can PVD be prevented?

• Avoid smoking
• Take a daily walk for at least 30min
• Proper control of diabetes
• Control of Hypertension
• Get a yearly health checkup after 45 years of age
• Peripheral vascular disease is a slow disease and it takes years to manifest itself in the blood vessels. If not managed properly and timely in expert hands, patients might end up with amputation of the limb.