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Causes & Symptoms

What are Causes Of Peripheral Vascular Disease?

People with coronary artery disease (CAD) often also have PVD. The most common cause of PVD is atherosclerosis. Fatty material builds up inside the arteries and mixes with calcium, scar tissue, and other substances. The mixture hardens slightly, forming plaques. These plaques block, narrow, or weaken the artery walls. Blood flowing through the arteries can be restricted or completely blocked. It also decreases the availability of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue.

Common Causes of PVD may include:

  • Injury to the arms or legs

  • Inflammation of the arteries

  • Infection

  • Emotional stress

  • Cold temperatures

  • Drugs

  • Smoking

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • High cholesterol

Signs and Symptoms of PVD

The first signs of PVD begin slowly and irregularly. While doing regular exercise or walking you may feel painful leg cramping due to the lack of blood flow. You may also feel discomfort like fatigue. Symptoms range from pain, cold feet, and bluish discoloration to stroke or gangrene. It's important to find narrowed arteries before damage occurs. See an expert healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Other symptoms of PVD:

  • Changes in the skin

  • Weak pulses in the legs and the feet

  • Hair loss on the legs

  • Wounds that won't heal easily

  • Numbness

  • Weakness, or heaviness in muscles

  • Pain in the toes and at night while lying flat

  • Thickened, opaque toenails

Diagnosis and Treatment

How to diagnose peripheral vascular disease?

The first successful treatment is correctly and early diagnosis. It helps prevent complications. Before getting started with any treatment your doctor will ask you about your medical history, perform some tests and physical exams. Below are some tests your doctor may use to identify PVD:

  • Angiogram - This test used to detect blockage or narrowing of vessels.

  • Doppler ultrasound - Doppler technique measures the flow of blood. Faintness or absence of sound may mean blood flow is blocked.

  • Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) - This magnetic field imaging makes blood vessels more visible to doctors.

  • Treadmill exercise test - To monitor blood circulation during exercise.

  • Photoplethysmography (PPG) - Using this test report doctor can compare measurements of the systolic blood pressure in the arm.

  • Pulse volume recording (PVR) - Your doctor uses this technique to calculate blood volume changes in the legs using a recording device that displays the results as a waveform.

  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI)- This is one of the most widely used tests for a person who has symptoms of PVD. This test compares the blood pressure in the arm (brachial) with the blood pressure in the legs.

Treatment for Peripheral Vascular Disease

The main goals for PVD treatments are to manage the symptoms and stop the progression of the disease. This treatment lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious complications. Take treatment for PVD before it gets worse. Also, several medications are available to treat the symptoms of PVD.

If you want to treat PVD, follow below treatments and remedies:

  • Regular exercise or walking

  • Proper nutrition or a balanced diet

  • Maintain healthy body weight

  • Stop smoking

  • Treat your diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol

  • Medicines to improve blood flow and relax the blood vessel walls

  • Vascular surgery

  • Angioplasty

    • Balloon angioplasty

    • Atherectomy

    • Laser angioplasty

    • Stent

Ways To Prevent PVD

There are many ways to reduce the risk of PVD and maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you follow all to recommend ways in your daily life it can reduce your risk for atherosclerosis and PVD.

  • Avoid smoking

  • If you have diabetes, try to control your blood sugar

  • Daily exercise of 30 minutes

  • Lower cholesterol and blood pressure

  • Eat a healthy food

  • Maintain Healthy Body Weight

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of PVD visit your primary physician. Your doctor will diagnose you and can find ways to reduce your symptoms.


If you are experiencing a cold, painful, pale limb with weak or no pulses, Visit the American Vein Clinics in Texas. In such a condition, you will require treatment as soon as possible in order to avoid some serious complications. At American vein clinics, we understand that vascular issues can be urgent and provide compassionate care.

Call us at 469-808-0000 to book an appointment with our vascular surgeon Dr. Ahsan Ali.