Symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease
Symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease: Introduction
Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease vary depending on the specific type. Symptoms can also differ between individuals. In all types of peripheral vascular disease, symptoms and complications are due to narrowed arteries, which lead to an insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to affected cells and tissue.
Typical symptoms of peripheral artery disease include pain in the legs with walking that goes away with rest. This is called intermittent claudication. Leg pain may be more intense with more strenuous exercise, such as hiking or climbing stairs. Leg pain may also be triggered by exposure to cold or by certain medications, such as beta blockers. There also may be leg cramping and leg fatigue. Symptoms can also occur in the hip.
Left untreated, peripheral artery disease lead to increased pain and cramping, and a change in color of the toes. The toes may appear pale, grey or bluish (cyanosis). The feet may feel very cold, and it can be difficult to find a pulse in the feet. Pulses in the feet may be absent altogether. Eventually, the lack of oxygen can lead to death (necrosis) of the tissues in the feet and lower legs. This results in the development of sores or ulcers and lesions. These ulcers often do not heal and can get easily infected. In severe cases, gangrene (tissue death or necrosis) can occur.
People with peripheral vascular disease due to peripheral artery disease are also more likely to develop atherosclerosis and narrowing of the arteries that the brain and heart due to fatty build-up in all of the arteries of the body. This puts them at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
In Raynaud's phenomenon and Raynaud's disease symptoms are due to spasms of the small arteries (called capillaries) in the toes and fingers, resulting in decreased blood flow. Symptoms include a change in color of the affected fingers and toes. The fingers and toes may appear pale, grey or bluish (cyanosis). The hands and feet may feel very cold and there may also be pain, throbbing, burning or numbness. In severe cases, ulcers and lesions can develop. This can lead to gangrene in severe cases....more about Peripheral vascular disease »
Symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Peripheral vascular disease includes the 21
symptoms listed below:
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Peripheral vascular disease: Symptom Checkers
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Peripheral vascular disease: Symptom Assessment Questionnaires
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Peripheral vascular disease: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Peripheral vascular disease:
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing of medical conditions related to Peripheral vascular disease:
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Do I have Peripheral vascular disease?
Wrongly Diagnosed with Peripheral vascular disease?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Peripheral vascular disease includes:
See the full list of 1
More about symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease:
More information about symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Peripheral vascular disease as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease, it is also important to consider Peripheral vascular disease as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Peripheral vascular disease may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease.
This signs and symptoms information for Peripheral vascular disease has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Peripheral vascular disease signs or Peripheral vascular disease symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Peripheral vascular disease may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Peripheral vascular disease symptoms.
