Everything You Need to Know about Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is an umbrella term that refers to a group of diseases affecting all the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. PVD is often the result of narrowing of the vessels carrying blood to your arms, legs, stomach or kidneys. PVD is a vein disease.

PVD does not cause symptoms for many people. Symptoms may begin slowly and irregularly for those who do experience them, and usually when walking quickly or for long periods. Usually affecting your legs and feet, symptoms include cramping, achiness, burning and fatigue. Symptoms typically subside with rest in the early stages of PVD but continue with rest as the disease progresses.

Types of Peripheral Vascular Disease

There are two main types of peripheral vascular disease. Organic PVDs are the result of structural changes within blood vessels. Inflammation and tissue damage are examples of organic PVDs.

Causes of organic PVDs include:

Smoking
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol

Other causes of organic PVDs include injury to the arms or legs, abnormal structures within muscles or ligaments, infection and coronary heart disease.

Functional PVDs, in contrast, are not the result of physical damage to blood vessels. This group of vascular diseases is instead usually associated with spasms that may come and go.

Causes of functional PVDs include:

Smoking
Emotional stress
Cold temperatures
Operating vibrating tools or machinery

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a type of organic PVD that develops only in the arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to your body cells and not in the veins that carry blood back to your heart. PAD is the result of fatty buildup, known as atherosclerosis, on the inner walls of your arteries. The fatty buildup of atherosclerosis narrows vessels and restricts blood flow.

Blockages can restrict oxygen-rich blood flowing through arteries to arms and legs, and to your vital organs, including your brain, stomach and kidneys. This means your organs do not get the oxygen they need to function well.

Atherosclerosis in the carotid artery serving your brain could cause a stroke. Blood clots can develop as fatty buildup grows. These clots can further obstruct blood vessels or break free to block blood vessels serving the heart or brain. In fact, people with PAD have a higher risk for death from stroke or heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.

Left untreated, PAD could lead to tissue death, known as gangrene, and subsequent amputation.

Risk Factors for PVD

Age, gender, certain underlying medical conditions and lifestyle choices can affect your risk for PVD. You are at higher risk for developing PVD if you are a male past the age of 50 or a post-menopausal female.

Other factors that increase your risk for this type of vein disease include:

Abnormal blood cholesterol levels
History of stroke
Heart disease
Type 1 diabetes
High blood pressure
Family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure or PVD
Kidney disease

Vascular Surgeon Discusses Vein Treatment for Peripheral Vascular Disease

A vascular surgeon can diagnose the cause of PVD and prescribe vein treatment to treat vein disease. A vein doctor always starts with a comprehensive vein evaluation. Treatment begins with lifestyle modifications but may include medications or surgery. Surgical techniques include angioplasty to open the blocked vein.

If you are concerned about vein disease, make an appointment with your vein doctor.