The Signs of Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease, also known as PAD, is a circulation problem that tends to narrow the artery located in the leg, so that blood flow is reduced. This is directly related to the disease that affects the blood vessels that are responsible for sending blood to the lower extremities. People with this disease often experience leg pain when they walk. The pain is medically referred to as intermittent claudication. Peripheral vascular disease were also associated with atherosclerosis, where fatty deposits accumulate in the arteries so that blood flow is reduced. And this can happen not only in the foot but also to the brain and heart.

Signs and Symptoms of Peripheral Vascular Disease
Symptoms of the disease is entirely dependent on the severity. People with mild cases may not observe any symptoms at all. But for those who have it severe, muscle pain and cramps in the legs, including arms, to feel. The pain usually occurs after exerting too much physical effort, such as walking, running, and hiking. For some people, pain can be reduced by several minutes of rest. But unfortunately for some people, restricting them from performing normal body movements at all.

Apart from the pain, people suffering from peripheral vascular disease will experience a cold feeling in the legs and feet every now and then. They will see that the pain from toe, foot, or leg does not heal as fast as it should. There will also be changes in the foot and nail color.

Some people may feel pain, even if they do not do physical activity at all. Foot or hand may feel pain, even if they just lie. This event is called ischaemic rest pain. Many people who have trouble sleeping at night.

The Causes of Peripheral Vascular Disease
Atherosclerosis is the main cause of this disease. As said before, this is due to fat accumulation in the coronary arteries and its walls. When this occurs, chest pain occurs. But more often than not, the prevalence did not depend on the liver alone. The rest of the body's arteries may be affected as well. If the artery is located in the neck and brain are affected, a stroke may occur. Now if it affects the control group and leg arteries, peripheral vascular disease develops.

Blood clots in the arteries and the limbs are also a major cause of the disease, and follow the same principles. Infections are directed to the muscles and ligaments are also a factor, especially if the virus infects the banned blood from flowing properly.

Diagnosing Peripheral Vascular Disease
Physical examination performed by a specialist intensive enough to diagnose this disease. Typically, doctors will find that the patient's pulse weakened, or even may not exist in certain areas where the artery has narrowed. And using a stethoscope, the doctor will hear a whooshing sound in the affected artery. Blood pressure was also reduced.

Another diagnostic test, called the Ankle-brachial index, can also be done. The method of testing blood pressure at the ankle and compare them with arms. A session on the treadmill may be needed so that doctors can detect how many are affected by narrowed arteries.

Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease
To treat this disease, your doctor may prescribe medical therapies that aim to reduce cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood sugar, blood clotting, and all the other symptoms associated with the disease. But if the body's response to drugs is not satisfactory, the physician can proceed to more invasive methods of treating diseases. Angioplasty, bypass surgery, and thrombolytic therapy is a method commonly done.