If peripheral vascular disease (PVD) occurs only in the arteries, it is called peripheral artery disease (PAD). Most cases of PVD affect the arteries as well, so the terms are often interchangeable.

In this article, we take a close look at PVD, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.

Fast facts on PVD:

• PVD affects an estimated 1 in 20 Americans over 50 years of age.
• Common risk factors include being over 50, smoking cigarettes, and having high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Common symptoms include pain and cramps in the legs, hips, and buttocks.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PVD affects men and women equally.
• Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are among the most common causes of PVD.

Types of peripheral vascular disease

There are two main types of PVD:

• Organic PVD results from changes in the blood vessels caused by inflammation, plaque buildup, or tissue damage.
• Functional PVD happens when blood flow decreases in response to something that causes the blood vessels to vary in size, such as brain signals or changes in body temperature. In functional PVD, there is no physical damage to the blood vessels.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of PVD often appear gradually. They occur more commonly in the legs than the in arms because the blood vessels in the legs are further from the heart.

Pains, aches, or cramps while walking are typical symptoms of PVD. However, up to 40 percent of people with PVD or PAD do not experience any leg pain.

Pains, aches, and cramps related to walking, which is known as claudication, might occur in the following areas:

• buttock
• calf
• hip
• thigh

Symptoms of claudication often develop when someone is walking quickly or for long distances. The symptoms typically go away with rest. However, as PVD progresses, symptoms can get worse and become more frequent. Leg pain and fatigue may persist even while resting.

Other symptoms of PVD include:

• leg cramps when lying down
• pale or reddish-blue legs or arms
• hair loss on the legs
• skin that is cool to the touch
• thin, pale, or shiny skin on the legs and feet
• slow-healing wounds and ulcers
• cold, burning, or numb toes
• thickened toenails
• slow or absent pulse in the feet
• heavy or numb sensations in the muscles
• wasting away of the muscle (atrophy)

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