Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

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PVD is a vascular disease that affects blood vessels, especially of the extremities.

Risk factors
People are at higher risk if they have a personal or family history of coronary artery disease (heart disease) or cerebrovascular disease (stroke), diabetes, smoking, hypertension, or kidney disease involving hemodialysis.

Symptoms

• Leg pain that occurs with exercise (such as walking) and is relieved with rest
• Numbness of the legs or feet at rest
• Cold legs or feet
• Muscle pain in the thighs, calves, or feet
• Loss of hair on the legs and/or feet
• Change of color of the legs
• Paleness or blueness
• Weak or absent pulse in the limb
• Walking/gait abnormalities

Often, symptoms affect one limb. If PVD is in both limbs, the intensity is usually different in each.

Read what Andrew Feiring, M.D., of Advanced Healthcare, says about diagnosing vascular disease.