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Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a disease of blood vessels. PVD causes the arteries which carry blood to your legs and arms to become narrowed or clogged. It is also known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and many people casually refer to the condition as “hardening of the arteries.”
Who’s At Risk?
Some people are at greater risk of others for developing PVD. If you are over the age of 50, or have hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, you run a greater risk of developing PVD. Smokers and those who are overweight or don’t exercise regularly are also at risk. If you have any of these risk factors, learn to recognize the symptoms and warning signs of PVD:
- Cramping, leg or hip pain when you walk, that goes away when you stop walking
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the legs
- Burning or aching pain in your feet or toes when resting
- Cold legs or feet
- Color change in the skin of your legs or feet
- Loss of hair on your legs
Get Checked—It Could Save Your Life
If you or a loved one thinks they might have signs and symptoms of PVD, schedule an appointment with a physician who can determine if you have the condition.
The most common test for PVD is the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and arterial Doppler, a painless exam during which a special stethoscope is used to compare the blood pressure and flow in your feet and arms. Based on the results of your ABI, as well as your symptoms and risk factors for PVD, a physician can decide if further tests are needed. If the ABI test indicates that you may have PVD, other imaging techniques—such as arteriograms or angiograms are typically ordered to confirm the diagnosis. On occasion, MRI scanning or CT scanning is also ordered.
Learn More About PVD and Take a Self-Test