Closeup of man's legs in beige pants walking upstairs. Hand held on one knee.

Peripheral Vascular/Arterial Disease (PVD/PAD)

Vascular Medicine & Surgery

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), also called peripheral vascular disease (PVD), is a progressive circulatory disorder. PVD refers to the hardening of the arteries and is known as atherosclerosis, when plaque builds in an artery, diminishing blood flow over time and leading to tissue or organ damage. Patients with PAD often experience leg pain that occurs with walking causing, numbness and tingling in the feet, trouble walking, foot pain that wakes you at night, and sores that won’t heal. Certain factors put you at greater risk for PVD. 
 

Risk factors for PAD include:
  • Age (over 50) 
  • ​Obesity
  • High blood pressure and/or cholesterol
  • Family history 
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • History of stroke 
  • Lack of exercise
  • ​Poor diet
 
patients with pvd may experience the following symptoms:
  • Muscle pain when walking
  • Legs felling numb or heavy
  • Leg cramping
  • Weak pulses in the legs or feet
  • Wounds that don't heal 
A sudden cold, painful, pale limb with weak or no pulses is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention.  
 
Contact CMC's Vascular Nurse Navigator by calling 603.665.5154.

 

Learn more

 Peripheral Vascular Artery Disease: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatments and more (patient resources/videos from the Society for Vascular Surgery)

 Know When to Contact Your Doctor About Leg Pain. It is natural to experience growing aches and pains with age—but if you have persistent pain in your legs for no obvious reason, it is important to take it more seriously and notify your physician. 

what is

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)?

Vascular Surgeon, Patricia Furey, MD, FACS, MBA explains what peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is, risk factors for PAD, common symptoms and what you should do if you're concerened you may have PAD.

PAD

treatments

Vascular Surgeon, Patricia Furey, MD, FACS, MBA discusses the non-invasive studies to diagnose PAD and the various treatment options available. 

diagnosis, treatment and technologies

There are a number of treatment options available, many of which can be conducted in an outpatient setting. CMC’s team of highly-trained physicians, technicians, and support staff can assess the best treatment options for you.

lifestyle adjustments and medications

If you’re diagnosed with PAD, your provider will likely recommend a healthier lifestyle to help keep the disease from progressing. This may include losing weight, quitting smoking, and exercising. Medications are also available to help reduce symptoms and improve blood flow in the legs and medications that relax vessel walls. 

Interventional and surgical treatments

Several procedures can help improve blood flow in patients with PAD, including angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty involves a balloon inserted into the artery through a small tube called a catheter which the doctor inflates to clear the blockage. A stent is small a mesh tube that stays in the artery and helps keep it open. Certain cases may be suitable for an atherectomy, which uses laser technology to dissolve the plaque that’s blocking the artery. In some situations, vascular surgery may be appropriate to help restore blood flow.

Failure to treat PVD may result in a loss of limb (amputation), poor wound healing, decreased mobility, pain or stroke. 

Dr Patricia Furey

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

PAD, or peripheral arterial disease, is a form of vascular disease which affects the arteries outside the heart. Its symptoms—if there are any at all—vary widely and are similar to the symptoms for many other conditions, making PAD a stealthy disease. Learn more from Patricia Furey, MD, FACS, vascular surgeon at CMC's Vein & Vascular Specialists as she responds to the following frequently asked questions.

Learn more in the FAQs below

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when someone develops PAD?
PAD is similar to coronary artery disease. Plaque builds up in an artery which diminishes blood flow over time. Eventually, that diminished blood flow can cause organ damage or failure. PAD can involve many organs throughout the body, depending on which artery or arteries are involved. The most common types of PAD include abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, and vascular disease in the lower extremities.
What makes PAD challenging to detect?
In many aspects, this can be a silent disease. Visual problems, high blood pressure, and trouble walking may be symptoms of PAD. Poor wound healing, toe discoloration, cool skin or sores on the legs can also be signs of PAD. Symptoms need to be considered in light of risk factors such as increasing age, smoking history and high cholesterol in order to determine whether testing is needed.
What are some other risk factors?
Smoking is a significant risk factor. Other important risk factors include:
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol 
There are screening tests for PAD which include a carotid artery screening to detect patients at risk for stroke, and an aneurysm screening is available for patients, if needed.
What can be done to treat PAD?
Interventions depend on symptoms. If someone's main complaint is leg pain, we can treat that with supervised exercise programs and medication to improve walking. Lifestyle, diet, and certain medications can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. More severe symptoms may require interventions including angioplasty, stenting and possibly surgery.
So what should someone do if they’re concerned about PAD?
First and foremost, a patient should talk with their primary care provider, especially if they think they might be at risk for PAD. At CMC's Vein & Vascular Specialists, we want our patients to understand that we are here to be their resource and provide information. Our expertise lies in our ability to not only treat their condition but also answer all of their questions.
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Vascular team

Our vascular physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and support staff bring extensive expertise and skill to each procedure, and take a personal interest in your well-being.

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Our Locations

Vein & Vascular Specialists
160 South River RoadSuite 100Bedford NH 03110
603.665.5150
About the Practice:

CMC's Vein & Vascular Specialists

Vascular Surgeon, Patricia Furey, MD, FACS, MBA describes CMC's Vein & Vascular Specialists and what makes it special.