Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Screening
What is it?
PVD Screening is a painless, non invasive procedure to assess the presence of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) which has a strong association with coronary heart disease. People with PVD have a two to six times greater chance of death from a heart attack or a stroke. PVD also increases your chances of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and even death.
PVD Screening is a painless, non invasive procedure to assess the presence of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) which has a strong association with coronary heart disease. People with PVD have a two to six times greater chance of death from a heart attack or a stroke. PVD also increases your chances of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and even death.
Why PVD screening is done?
Early signs of cardiovascular disease can be caught and potentially treated before problems occur. A Peripheral Vascular Screening can help to determine your risk of heart attack or stroke and amputation by assessing your risk of PVD. A PVD screen would be advised if a patient displays symptoms such as numbness of the extremities, a feeling of coldness in hands and feet or pain in calf muscles/ buttocks with walking. Major risk factors for the disease include:
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What to expect
During a physical examination your Cardiologist may look for signs that are indicative of PVD including weak or absent artery pulses in the extremities, changes in blood pressure in the limbs at rest and/or during exercise, skin colour and nail changes. Blood pressure measurement of all four limbs (ankle brachial index -ABI) accompanying Doppler ultrasound examination is a relatively easy and reliable way of diagnosing PVD. The screening is painless and non-invasive and takes about 30-minutes. Testing can also be extended to abdominal aortic aneurysm screening which is an ultrasound review of carotid arteries. |