Peripheral Vascular Disease Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
refers to blockages in blood vessels that are away from the
heart. It is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and
leads to narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply
blood to the legs and feet. “If you have PVD, the results can be
dangerous and unfortunately, often go undetected,” said Mamata
Alwarshetty, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Rush-
Copley. “People who have PVD can have blockages in blood vessels
elsewhere in the body and have a two to six times greater risk
of dying from heart disease and stroke.”