Peripheral Vascular Disease Center - Framingham, MAFramingham Cardiologist Doctors for Peripheral Vascular DiseaseType of Physician: Cardiologist What is a Cardiologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners are expert in diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. They consult with surgeons on heart surgery, perform diagnostic procedures, and manage complex conditions such as heart attacks and arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat). Specialty: Cardiology Common Name: Heart Doctor Cardiologist Doctors in Framingham * The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  The Heart Center of MetroWest  Southboro Medical Group Framingham  Suburban Cardiology & Internal Medicine PC  Charles River Medical Associates  L Frederick Kaplan MD  Alla G Zaver MD  Howard D Kirshenbaum MD  Lincoln Physicians Practice  Massachusetts Cardiology Associates  Massachusetts Cardiology Associates  Middlesex Internal Medicine Assoc  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  James W Todd MD  Newton-Wellesley Cardiologists PC  Concord Cardiology  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Heart Associates  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Marvin H Kendrick Jr. MD  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiac Services  Thomas A LaMattina MD  Krishma Medical Associates PC  Perminder Dhillon MD  West Suburban Cardiology  West Suburban Cardiology  Harold Moore MD  Gordon M Saperia MD  Boston West Cardiology  Solomon Gabbay MD  Ernesto Y Jose MD PC  Satish P Gupta MD  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Dedham Medical Associates  Dedham Medical Associates  Benson Henry Institute  Hopedale Cardiology  Hopedale Cardiology  Women's Health Associates  Women's Health Associates  Hopedale Cardiology  Hopedale Cardiology  Cardiology Associates  Cardiology Associates  Norwood Cardiology  Norwood Cardiology  Norwood Cardiology  Ralph Bevivino MD  Associates In Internal Medicine  Norfolk County Cardiology  Associates In Internal Medicine  Associates In Internal Medicine  Norfolk County Cardiology  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury  Edith Norse Rogers V A Memorial / Bedford VA  Larry Weinrauch MD  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  St Elizabeth Medical Center Cardiology  Eugene Vaninov MD  Gary M Brockington MD  Faulkner Hospital  Brigham Faulkner Cardiovascular  David W Khoury MD  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology Framingham, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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Peripheral Vascular DiseaseRead the Peripheral Vascular Disease article » What is peripheral vascular disease?Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) refers to diseases of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) located outside the heart and brain. While there are many causes of peripheral vascular disease, doctors commonly use the term peripheral vascular disease to refer to peripheral artery disease (peripheral arterial disease, PAD), a condition that develops when the arteries that supply blood to the internal organs, arms, and legs become completely or partially blocked as a result of atherosclerosis.
What is atherosclerosis?Atherosclerosis is a gradual process whereby hard cholesterol substances (plaques) are deposited in the walls of the arteries. Cholesterol plaques cause hardening of the artery walls and narrowing of the inner channel (lumen) of the artery. The atherosclerosis process begins early in life (as early as teens in some people). When atherosclerosis is mild and the arteries are not substantially narrowed, atherosclerosis causes no symptoms. Therefore many adults typically are unaware that their arteries are gradually accumulating cholesterol plaques. But when atherosclerosis becomes advanced with aging, it can cause critical narrowing of the arteries resulting in tissue ischemia (lack of blood and oxygen). Arteries that are narrowed by advanced atherosclerosis can cause diseases in different organs. For example, advanced atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries (arteries that supply heart muscles) can lead to angina and heart attacks. Advanced atherosclerosis of the carotid and cerebral arteries (arteries that supply blood to the brain) can lead to strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Advanced atherosclerosis in the lower extremities can lead to pain while walking or exercising (claudication), deficient wound healing, and/or leg ulcers.
Recommended Reading Related to Peripheral Vascular DiseaseVitamins & Exercise: Heart Attack Prevention Series » Folic acid, B vitamins, and homocysteineHomocysteine is metabolized (chemically transformed) into methionine and cysteine with the help of the B vitamins; folic acid, B12, and B6 (pyridoxine). Therefore, insufficient amounts of these B vitamins in the body can theoretically hamper the metabolic breakdown of homocysteine, and hence increase its blood levels. High levels of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia) can damage the inner surface of blood vessels, promote blood clotting, and accelerate atherosclerosis. The current state of knowledge regarding folic acid, homocysteine, and heart attacks is as follows:
Read the Vitamins & Exercise: Heart Attack Prevention Series article » Other Related Peripheral Vascular Disease ArticlesEmergency Contact for Framingham
Nearby Framingham Hospitals *MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Newton Wellesley Hospital Westborough State Hospital Westwood Lodge Hospital Milford Regional Medical Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Caritas Norwood Hospital Emerson Hospital Bournewood Hospital McLean Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Franciscan Hospital for Children Faulkner Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Arbour Hospital Arbour HRI Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Massachusetts Mental Health Center Brigham & Women's Hospital New England Baptist Hospital Dana Farber Cancer Institute Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Massachusetts Hospital School Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Milton Hospital Somerville Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital M I T Medical UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus Boston Medical Center Caritas Carney Hospital HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Worcester State Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Lawrence Memorial Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Tufts New England Medical Center New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus Landmark Medical Center Adcare Hospital of Worcester St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center Winchester Hospital Quincy Medical Center Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton Whidden Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center Melrose Wakefield Hospital Nashoba Valley Medical Center Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton Sturdy Memorial Hospital Arbour-Fuller Hospital South Shore Hospital Tewksbury Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Peripheral Vascular Disease by Our Doctors
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Aseptic Necrosis
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Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
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Claudication
- Intermittent claudication, or pain and cramping in the lower leg is caused by inadequate blood flow to the leg muscles. This lack of blood flow causes a decrease in oxygen delivered to the muscles of the legs. Claudication is generally felt when walking and decreases with rest. In severe cases, claudication may be felt at rest. Narrowing of arteries cause claudication. Treatment includes exercise, medication, and in some cases surgery.
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Kidney Failure
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Corns
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Diabetes and Foot Problems
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Vitamins & Exercise: Heart Attack Prevention Series
- Vitamins and exercise can lower your risk for heart attack and heart disease. Folic acid, vitamins, and homocysteine levels are interconnected and affect your risk for heart disease or heart attack. Antioxidants and exercise also play a key role in heart attack and heart disease prevention. Lower your risk factors for heart disease and heart attack by lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, diabetes prevention, and smoking cesssation.
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Diabetes Treatment
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Heart Disease
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Blood Clots
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Lymphedema
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