Peripheral Artery Disease / Peripheral Vascular Disease (PAD / PVD)

Peripheral Artery (PAD) is a serious problem. It involves poor or reduced circulation of arteries in the legs, and can typically affect your walking. 

This disease can manifest by the following:

• Claudication (pain in the calf muscle) after walking
• Rest pain (pain in the foot while laying in bed) that is relieved by hanging the foot down
• Gangrene which is dead tissue caused by infection or lack of blood supply
• Cold, discolored or pale limbs, with weak or no pulses
• Ulcerations (breakdown of the skin) and is not healing

If you are experiencing any of the following, it would be recommended to be examined to check the pulses of the feet and have a circulation test. After the circulation test, if there is a problem with your circulation. The Doctor will recommend to either have a CTA (Computed tomography angiography), which will show us the extent of problem or do an endovascular procedure, to see if there is a blockage within the artery and open it up from within. There are other options available that the Doctor may recommend, after the evaluation of your condition.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) is a disease that can also affect the arteries of not only the legs, but other arteries in the body and the veins as well. The following symptoms are listed below.

• Leg swelling with discoloration 
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots) which can be extremely dangerous and lead to pulmonary embolisms.
• Leg or foot ulcers (breakdown of the skin)

Who is at risk for PAD or PVD? 

Approximately 10 million adults are affected with PAD/PVD and is more common in men than women, and often occurs in adults over the age of 50.

Risk factors include:

• High cholesterol 
• Diabetes type 1 & 2
• Cigarettes or tobacco smoking
• High blood pressure 
• Physically inactive and family history of Atherosclerosic disease 

If you're experiencing any vascular problems, consult with your Primary Doctor about the problems, so that you can be referred or call us to make an appointment. Your health is important to us.