Definitions for "Peripheral Vascular Disease"
Damage to or blockage in the veins that carry blood from your arms and legs back to your heart
peripheral vascular disease: partial or complete blockage of major vessels outside of the heart that supply blood to other important areas of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, arms, and legs. More than half of patients with peripheral vascular disease have severe coronary disease as well.
Another, less precise, term that describes any disease of the arteries or veins. A more precise term is "peripheral arterial disease", which clarifies that the arteries are damaged or blocked. This progressive disease process can be associated with blockages in arteries of the brain, kidneys and heart.