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Peripheral Vascular Disease - Peripheral Vascular Disease symptom, treatment, causes

Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It's often a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. There are two types peripheral arterial disease and peripheral venous disorders. It causes either acute or chronic ischemia. It may involve disease in any of the blood vessels outside of the heart and diseases of the lymph vessels - the arteries, veins, or lymphatic vessels. However, the legs and feet are most commonly affected, thus the name peripheral vascular disease. When PVD occurs in the arteries outside the heart, it may be referred to as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In the US, 10 million people have peripheral artery disease. PAD occurs in 5 percent of adults older than 50 and in 20 percent of adults older than 70. It is frequently found in people with coronary artery disease, because atherosclerosis, which causes coronary artery disease, is a widespread disease of the arteries. Conditions associated with PAD may be occlusive (occurs because the artery becomes blocked in some manner) or functional (the artery either constricts due to a spasm or expands). Examples of occlusive PAD include peripheral arterial occlusion and Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans).

Peripheral Vascular Disease is due to the inadequate blood supply to the limbs (mainly the legs), because of narrowing or blocking of arteries. Most peripheral vascular disease is due to ATHEROSClEROSISfrom the complications of DIABETES MELLITUS or high blood pressure. Other causes include BUERGER'S DISEASEand RAYNAUD'S DISEASE, Cigarette smoking is an important contributory factor to most peripheral vascular disease.

Causes of Peripheral Vascular Disease

The common Causes of Peripheral Vascular Disease :

• Elevated blood pressure is correlated with an increase in the risk of developing PAD, as well as in associated coronary and cerebrovascular events (heart attack and stroke).
• Other risk factors which are being studied include levels of various inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and fibrinogen.
• Tobacco use in any form is the single most important modifiable cause of PAD internationally. Smokers have up to a ten-fold increase in relative risk for PAOD in a dose-related effect. Exposure to second-hand smoke from environmental exposure has also been shown to promote changes in blood vessel lining (endothelium) which is a precursor to atherosclerosis.
• Risk of PAOD also increases if the patient is: over the age of 50, African American, male, obese , or has a personal history of vascular disease , heart attack , or stroke .

Symptom Of Peripheral Vascular Disease

When arteries become progressively narrowed, the first symptom is gradually worsening leg pain on exercise, relieved by rest. As the blood supply becomes further, restricted, there may be pain at rest and the affected limb, may be pale, cold and numb, with dry, scaly skin that tends to develop persistent ulcers after minor injury. Sudden blockage of an affected artery due to a thrombus (blood clot) or an embolus (foreign matter in the bloodstream) causes severe pain and a cold, pale, numb, pulseless limb beyond the blockage. If the blood supply is severely restricted or blocked, uncontrollable infection and gangrene can develop. Some common Symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease :

• Burning or aching pain in the feet or toes while resting.
• A sore on a leg or a foot that will not heal.
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs.
• pallor (paleness) when the legs are elevated.
• Severe pain.
• Loss of hair on the legs.
• Thickened, opaque toenails.
• Impotence.

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease is usually obvious from the symptoms and signs. Doppler ultrasonography (a form of ultra' sound scanning) gives accurate measurements of blood flow and pressure in affected arteries. There are several aspects of treatment : a regular exercise program to develop other arterial channels to the part, avoiding smoking, special care of the feet, and sometimes vasodilator or other drugs to improve blood flow to the affected parts. If arteries are severely narrowed or blocked, ANGIOPLASTY (procedures to restore blood flow) may be necessary. Parts affected by gangrene or uncontrollable infection may need amputation

• Aggressive treatment of existing conditions that may aggravate PVD, such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (elevated blood cholesterol)
• Medications for improving blood flow, such as antiplatelet agents (blood thinners) and medications that relax the blood vessel walls
• Lifestyle modifications to control risk factors, including regular exercise, proper nutrition, and smoking cessation
• Quit smoking .