Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD ) occurs when blood flow in one of the blood vessels outside of the heart slows or stops.

Your body depends on a vast network of blood vessels to carry blood to and from the heart. When you have PVD, blood can’t pass smoothly through one of these blood vessels. As a result, part of the body may not receive enough blood, or blood may pool or form a clot. PVD can increase your risk for other heart and vascular conditions, reduce your mobility and impact your quality of life.

PVD can affect the arteries, veins or both. A common type of PVD is peripheral artery disease (PAD), also known as peripheral arterial disease. PAD often affects the arteries in the legs and feet and can lead to leg pain when walking, as well as other symptoms.

Other types of PVD include:

• Chronic venous insufficiency: When a damaged vein struggles to send blood back to the heart
• Deep vein thrombosis: A type of blood clot that forms in veins deep inside the body
• Varicose veins: Enlarged veins just beneath the skin’s surface

Problems in the peripheral blood vessels tend to develop slowly and worsen over time. That’s why they’re most common after age 50. Early diagnosis and treatment give you the best chance of controlling symptoms and avoiding complications.

If left untreated, PVD can cause the following complications:

• Claudication: Muscle pain and cramping in your feet and legs due to reduced blood supply.
• Critical limb ischemia: This is a condition where, as your arteries become blocked, you experience chronic pain and can develop non-healing wounds and ulcers on your feet.
• Infections: If you are living with wounds or ulcers on your legs and feet, you are at higher risk of developing an infection.
• Stroke and heart attack: With PVD, your risk of heart attack and stroke increases due to reduced blood flow to your heart and brain.