What is peripheral vascular disease?
A person with peripheral vascular disease has damage to the arteries that supply the legs and feet. Symptoms occur when the arteries are unable to provide enough oxygen to meet the demand of the tissues. Peripheral vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis.

What are the symptoms of peripheral vascular disease?
The initial symptoms of peripheral vascular disease include leg pain or foot pain that worsens with activity, feet that are cool to touch, numbness and tingling in the legs and feet, slow wound healing, and weak pulses in the feet. Additional symptoms of worsening peripheral vascular disease include foot swelling, leg swelling, skin ulcers and varicose veins.

How does the doctor treat peripheral vascular disease?
Treatment for peripheral vascular disease may include avoiding smoking, a low fat diet, a low cholesterol diet, weight loss, blood thinner medications, aspirin, thrombolytic medications, and surgery.