Peripheral Vascular Disease Center - Lowell, MALowell 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 Lowell * Cardiology Associates of Greater Lowell  Cardiology Associates of Greater Lowell  Cardiology Associates of Greater Lowell  Cardiology Associates of Greater Lowell  Riverside Medical Group  Riverside Medical Group  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Merrimack Valley Cardiology Associates Inc  Edith Norse Rogers V A Memorial / Bedford VA  New England Cardiology  New England Cardiology  Anthony F Marino MD  Mahmoud Kowsari MD  Pentucket Medical at RiverWalk  Woburn Medical Associates  Sunit Mukherjee 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  Lahey Hospital Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  Lahey Clinic Cardiology  New England Medical Specialists  Heartsafe Medical Office  Stephen J Galizio MD  Heartsafe Medical Office  Concord Cardiology  Heart Associates  Marvin H Kendrick Jr. MD  Thomas A LaMattina MD  Krishma Medical Associates PC  Kevin J Berry MD  Reading Cardiology Associates  Reading Cardiology Associates  Lincoln Physicians Practice  Bruce Watrous MD  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiovascular  Paul Radvany MD  Kenneth K Tucker MD  Primary Care Specialists Inc  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Cardiac Services  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Cardiology  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Cardiology  Pentucket Medical Associates Haverhill Cardiology  Central MA Cardiovascular Physicians Inc  David W Khoury MD  Boston West Cardiology  Solomon Gabbay MD  David M DeSimone MD  North Suburban Cardiology Associates  North Suburban Cardiology Associates  North Suburban Cardiology Associates  North Suburban Cardiology Associates  North Suburban Cardiology Associates  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  Lahey Clinic Arlington Internal Medicine  David Barrasso & James A Smith MDs  Mystic Cardiology Associates  Mystic Cardiology Associates  Mystic Cardiology Associates  David Barrasso & James A Smith MDs  Bhagwan D Gupta MD  Gordon M Saperia MD  Salil K Midha MD  Middlesex Cardiology  Melrose Internal Medicine  Middlesex Cardiology  Middlesex Cardiology  Middlesex Cardiology  Larry Weinrauch MD  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  Mount Auburn Cardiology Associates Lowell, 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 Lowell
Nearby Lowell Hospitals *Saints Medical Center Lowell General Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Tewksbury Hospital Isham Health Center Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Lawrence General Hospital Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network Southern New Hampshire Medical Center St Joseph Hospital Lahey Clinic Medical Center Emerson Hospital Nashoba Valley Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Merrimack Valley Hospital Winchester Hospital Baldpate Hospital Parkland Medical Center Hampstead Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital McLean Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital North Shore Medical Center Somerville Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Mount Auburn Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston Arbour HRI Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Beverly Hospital M I T Medical Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus Tufts New England Medical Center Elliot Hospital New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Anna Jaques Hospital UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital Boston Medical Center Arbour Hospital Health Alliance Burbank Hospital Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Radius Specialty Hospital Boston Bournewood Hospital Catholic Medical Center MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital Faulkner Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Manchester VA Medical Center Massachusetts Mental Health Center VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus Westborough State Hospital 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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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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Aseptic Necrosis
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