The term peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is commonly used to refer to peripheral artery disease (PAD), meaning narrowing or occlusion by atherosclerotic plaques of arteries outside of the heart and brain. Risk factors for peripheral artery disease include elevated blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, inactivity, and overweight/obesity
Approximately half of people with peripheral artery disease do not experience any symptoms. For patients with symptoms. Treatments include lifestyle changes, supervised exercise, medications, angioplasty, and surgery.
Spider veins and varicose veins are common conditions that affect many adults. These abnormally enlarged vessels, which affect women more often than men, appear most often on the legs and become more prevalent with age.