Peripheral Vascular Disease refers to a group of slow, progressive blood disorders that affect the blood vessels outside of the heart and brain. PVD causes the narrowing of vessels that transport blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys.
You might be at risk for PVD/PAD if you have type 1 diabetes, coronary artery disease, impaired glucose tolerance, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or have a family history of PVD or certain heart conditions. It’s also more common in men over age 50 and postmenopausal women, obese and/or inactive individuals and those who smoke.
In the Sutter Health network, our goal in caring for PVD/PAD is to increase blood flow to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. We incorporate various strategies tailored to your medical needs and situation.