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Home Heart & Vascular Conditions & Services Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the broad term used for a variety of heart and blood vessel diseases. It encompasses a wide range of conditions with many impacted by lifestyle choices.

Peripheral Vascular Disease is a disease in which plaque builds up in the arteries that carry blood to your head, organs and limbs. Over time plaque can harden and narrow the arteries, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of the body. It most commonly affects the arteries in the legs.

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Prevention

You can do many things to keep PVD from getting worse such as lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as monitoring risk factors that can cause heart attack or stoke. Additionally,

  • Don’t smoke
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet
  • Reduce stress
  • Take any and all medications as prescribed by your doctor
  • Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and maintain good foot hygiene
  • Follow-up with your doctor regularly

Your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation following a treatment procedure.

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Treatment Options

Specific treatment will be determined by your doctor based on age, overall health, medical history, extent of the disease and your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies.

Treatment of peripheral artery disease includes lifestyle changes to manage risk factors such as managing diabetes when present, achieving ideal weight, getting more exercise and quitting smoking.Additionally, drug therapy, may be used to reduce or eliminate the risk of heart disease or stroke.The goal is to manage the symptoms and stop the progression of atherosclerosis.

  • Angioplasty or stenting
  • Thrombolytics (clot dissolvers)
  • Surgery

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Exams and Tests

Along with a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures may include:

  • Blood tests
  • Ultrasound
  • Ankle-brachial index (ABI), a simple test comparing blood pressure in the ankle to blood pressure in the arm, indicating how well blood is flowing in the limbs.
  • CT angiogram
  • Arteriography

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Our Team

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James Balshi, MD

James Balshi, MD

Surgery (General Surgery)

Vascular Surgery
Rosanne Diaz, PAC

Rosanne Diaz, PAC

Physician Assistant

Vascular Surgery
Calogero DiMaggio, DO

Calogero DiMaggio, DO

Surgical Critical Care

Surgery (General Surgery)

Vascular Surgery
Lynne Doctor, MD

Lynne Doctor, MD

Vascular Surgery
Gregory Domer, MD

Gregory Domer, MD

Vascular Surgery

Surgery (General Surgery)
Jay Fisher, MD

Jay Fisher, MD

Surgery (General Surgery)

Vascular Surgery
Maggie Lin, MD

Maggie Lin, MD

Vascular Surgery
Megan McLane, CRNP

Megan McLane, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

Vascular Surgery
Melinda McLane, CRNP

Melinda McLane, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

Vascular Surgery

Family Medicine
Timothy Oskin, MD

Timothy Oskin, MD

Surgery (General Surgery)

Vascular Surgery
Sarah Pullara, PAC

Sarah Pullara, PAC

Surgery (General Surgery)

Physician Assistant

Vascular Surgery
Khurram Rasheed, MD

Khurram Rasheed, MD

Vascular Surgery
Sharvil Sheth, MD

Sharvil Sheth, MD

Surgery (General Surgery)

Vascular Surgery
Beth Valderrama, PAC

Beth Valderrama, PAC

Physician Assistant

Vascular Surgery
Erin Zeller, PAC

Erin Zeller, PAC

Surgery (General Surgery)

Physician Assistant

Vascular Surgery