Peripheral Vascular Disease
By: Danya Shere & Micah Neill
Slow and progressive circulation disorder of the blood vessels located outside of the heart and brain. Narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs.
- Artherosclerosis in which fatty deposits build up in the artery walls and reduce blood flow
- Blood vessel inflammation
- Injury to the limbs
- Painful cramping in hip, thigh, or calf muscles
- Leg numbness
- Sores on toes, feet, or legs
- Color change in legs
- Weak pulse in legs or feet
1) Pulse and blood pressure checks
2) Ankle-brachial index which compares the blood flow in the ankle to that in the arm
3) Doppler ultrasound
Becomes more prevalent with age, affects at least 8 to 12 million Americans
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Stroke and heart attack
Goal of treatment is to manage symptoms and stop the progression of atherosclerosis
- Medication for: cholesterol lowering, high blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, preventing blood clots
- Angioplasty (catheter threaded through a blood vessel) and bypass surgery
- Supervised exercise program
"Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)." Definition. Mayo Clinic, 2015. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
"Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Symptoms and Treatment." EMedicineHealth. EMedicineHealth, 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.