Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease, is a blood circulation disorder in which the circulation of blood gets completely or partially blocked and does not reach the arms, legs, stomach or kidneys. PVD occurs when plaque builds up in the nerves and veins that carry blood to all parts of the body. Plaque is a composite of fat, fibrous tissue, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood. When plaque deposits harden they constrict the flow of blood passing through the arteries.

There are mainly two types of PVDs or circulation disorders, namely functional and organic. Functional PVDs are caused by emotional stress, smoking, cold temperatures or working with vibrating machinery. The pain caused by this is usually short-term, which occurs in the form of spasms that come and go. Organic PVDs, on the other hand, are caused by blood clots, inflammation, atherosclerosis (fatty buildups), infection or tissue damage, that changes the structure of the blood vessels.

Symptoms
The symptoms of peripheral vascular disease generally depends on the affected artery and extent of blockage. Some of the symptoms of PVD are listed below:

• Intermittent claudication (temporary muscle pain or cramp that comes and goes)
• Extreme pain in the thigh, calves and leg muscles.
• Slow healing wounds and ulcers with gangrene in the tissue.
• Weakness, tingling and cramping in the muscles.
• Changes in the color (turning blue) and temperature (becoming cold) of the affected limb.
• Loss of hair on the legs and thickening of toenails.

Risk Factors
Peripheral artery disease is more common in men than women and mostly occurs in people over the age of 50. Following are the known risk factors that make people susceptible to peripheral artery disease:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Physical inactivity
• History of high blood pressure (hypertension)
• History of any atherosclerosis symptoms
• Chronic renal failure
• Low blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
• High blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides

Treatment
PVD treatment includes a combination of medicines, surgery and lifestyle changes that help to either slow down or stop the disease.

Medicines
They are prescribed to heal any of the following symptoms:

• Helps to ease the swelling and pain that occurs while performing any physical activity.
• Clearing or thinning blood clots to ensure proper flow of blood through the arteries.
• Controlling low or high blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

Surgery
Surgical procedures does not cure PVD, but helps to restore the flow or circulation of blood to the different body organs.

Bypass Grafting: In this procedure, a blood vessel from another part of body or a tube (man-made) is used to make a graft. This graft bypasses the blocked area of the artery, allowing the blood to flow around the blockage. Bypass grafting is recommended for blocked or partially blocked arteries.

Angioplasty: This procedure is recommended to restore blood flow through a blocked artery. A catheter with a balloon is inserted into a narrowed or blocked artery and is inflated. The inflated balloon pushes the plaque outward against the wall of the artery, thereby widening it and restoring the blood flow. Some doctors place a stent, which is a small mesh tube in the artery, while performing the angioplasty. A stent helps to keep the artery open after the surgery is completed.

Lifestyle Changes
Medicinal and surgical treatment can benefit immensely, when combined with few changes in our lifestyle.

• Quit Smoking: Smoking increases the risk of acquiring as well as aggravating peripheral vascular and coronary artery diseases.
• Lowering Cholesterol: Low cholesterol diet helps to reduce and even reverse the plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Lower Blood Sugar: Diabetic people are more at risk of developing this disease.
• Blood Pressure Control: Blood pressure, both low or high increase the chances of developing PVD.
• Healthy Diet: A healthy diet comprising fruits and vegetables and low fat dairy products helps keep obesity in check.
• Physical Activity: A supervised exercise program helps to reduce PVD symptoms.

Timely medical intervention helps to control gangrene, a disastrous outcome of the peripheral vascular disease, as it leads to amputations. Like most diseases, prevention is definitely better than cure.