Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 40 seconds of a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and one of the leading causes of disability in the country.
One common cardiovascular condition is peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Affecting millions of Americans, PVD is any disorder of the circulatory system, mainly the arteries and veins. When it affects the arteries, you may hear it referred to as peripheral artery disease.
It may be surprising to realize that PVD has a higher mortality and morbidity rate than both breast cancer and colon cancer. We should be just as aggressive screening for this disease as we are with other types of common disorders.
PVD is commonly caused by a buildup of plaque or cholesterol, called atherosclerosis. When this happens, blood and oxygen have trouble reaching different parts of the body. For example, if a leg artery becomes blocked, blood and oxygen have trouble getting to the thighs, calves, and feet. This can cause pain and cramping in the legs. Some other symptoms may include heaviness, fatigue, weakness, tingling, cold feet, or discoloration.
Another important thing to note is the fact that there is a definite relationship between PVD and heart disease. When atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the heart, this is called coronary artery disease. If you have PVD, you are four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis, which is the plaque within the arteries, affects the entire body, so if it is present in your leg arteries, it is often present in your heart arteries as well.
Many people do not recognize the signs or symptoms of PVD and choose to ignore them. They blame their symptoms on diabetes, neuropathy, arthritis, or just old age. If the blockages get severe, it can lead to serious problems, such as ulceration and amputation.
The good news is that there are definitely things you can do to help prevent PVD. Diet and exercise are especially important. Do your best to quit smoking, manage your high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Do not ignore your symptoms; take the time to explain any concerns to your doctor. There are many treatment options if you do suffer from PVD, ranging from medications to procedures, but it is extremely important to catch the disease early in its course.
PVD typically affects people ages 50 and older, especially those with a history of smoking or diabetes. In people older than 70, it can affect approximately one-third of individuals. Even if you do not have any current symptoms of PVD, everyone with risk factors should get screened for the disease.
Early detection of PVD, heart disorders, stroke, and other diseases is possible through the use of vascular testing procedures performed within health-care systems such as Mount Nittany Health. There are many facets contributing to an accurate diagnosis based on vascular testing. The skill of the technologist performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician, and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing.
Mount Nittany Physician Group Cardiology recently earned a three-year term of reaccreditation in vascular testing by the Intersocietal American Commission (IAC). Accreditation by the IAC means the physician group has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components. The IAC accreditation is a “seal of approval” granted only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards, through a comprehensive and detailed case review of vascular testing.
IAC accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of the national medical societies related to vascular testing, which include physicians and sonographers. Vascular-testing accreditation is required in some states and regions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and by some private insurers. However, patients should remain vigilant in making sure that their vascular-testing procedures are performed within accredited facilities because for many facilities, accreditation remains a voluntary process.
The reaccreditation follows Mount Nittany Physician Group Cardiology’s mission to provide full vascular services to patients and the community, including minimally invasive endovascular and surgical treatment options.
For information on Mount Nittany Physician Group Cardiology providers and services, visit mountnittany.org/cardiology
