What are PAD and PVD?

Peripheral Arterial Disease & Peripheral Vascular Disease

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)?

PAD is a circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs. Though it can happen in any blood vessel, it typically manifests itself in the lower legs.

It is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis. Due to a lack of education around it, PAD is often left undiagnosed by healthcare professionals, often due to their patients lacking any symptoms.

Most importantly, if left untreated, PAD can result in amputation.

Illustration showing how Peripheral Artery Disease narrows arteries with plaque buildup, reducing blood flow to the legs. It depicts healthy arteries versus arteries narrowed by plaque, and includes a diagram of a blood vessel with plaque inside.

What is Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)?

PVD is the same condition as PAD, however, instead of taking place in the arteries, it encompasses all blood vessels (including arteries).

To learn more about the symptoms and treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), visit PVD and Me’s website here.

 PAD FAQs

    1. Increasing Age

    2. Family History

    3. Diabetes

    4. Obesity

    5. History of Smoking

    6. High Cholesterol

    7. Heart Disease

    8. Heavy Alcohol Consumption

    9. Poor Diet

    1. Change in the color of the feet or toes

    2. Change in the toenails

    3. Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other leg

    4. Hair loss on the feet and legs

    5. Painful cramping in the hip, thigh or calf muscles after walking or climbing up stairs (claudication)

    6. Sores on toes, feet or legs that heal slowly

    7. Swelling

    8. Spider, reticular and varicose veins

  • Treatment can begin with promoting lifestyle changes that deviate from known risk factors. However, in more severe cases, Peripheral Arterial (Leg) Revascularization will need to take place.

    This would require mitigating the blockages to re-introduce a healthy blood flow through the artery.

  • Left untreated, PAD can result in amputation of the affected extremity, typically the toe(s) or foot.

For an excellent overview about PAD, check out this video from Dr. Gabor Winkler uploaded by McLeodHealth: