Peripheral Vascular Disease Center - Nashua, NHNashua 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 Nashua * New England Heart Institute of Nashua  New England Heart Institute of Nashua  Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center  Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center  Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center  New England Heart Institute of Nashua  New England Heart Institute of Nashua  Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center  Lahey Cardiology at The Medical Center  The Wellness Center  Davor Kvaternik MD  New Hampshire Cardiology Consultants PC  New Hampshire Cardiology Consultants PC  New Hampshire Cardiology Consultants PC  New Hampshire Cardiology Consultants PC  New Hampshire Cardiology Consultants PC  Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  New England Heart Institute  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Pediatric Cardiology  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates Of New Hampshire  Exeter Cardiovascular Associates  Exeter Cardiovascular Associates  Exeter Cardiovascular Associates  Exeter Cardiovascular Associates  Exeter Internal Medicine  Atlantic Cardiology Associates  Atlantic Cardiology Associates  Atlantic Cardiology Associates  Strafford Cardiology  Strafford Cardiology  Strafford Cardiology  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Richard A Petrie MD  Seacoast Cardiology Associates  Cardiac Associates of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates of New Hampshire  Cardiac Associates of New Hampshire  Laconia Cardiology PA  Cardiac Associates of New Hampshire  Laconia Cardiology PA  Cardiac Associates of New Hampshire  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology  Dartmouth-Hitchcock Cardiology Nashua, New HampshireUpcoming 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 Nashua
Nearby Nashua Hospitals *Southern New Hampshire Medical Center St Joseph Hospital HC Solomon Mental Health Center Lowell General Hospital Parkland Medical Center Saints Medical Center Nashoba Valley Medical Center Northeast Rehabilitation Health Network Caritas Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center Elliot Hospital Tewksbury Hospital Catholic Medical Center Lawrence General Hospital Hampstead Hospital Manchester VA Medical Center Isham Health Center Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Haverhill Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Health Alliance Burbank Hospital Emerson Hospital Merrimack Valley Hospital HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus Lahey Clinic Medical Center Baldpate Hospital Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital Monadnock Community Hospital UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital Winchester Hospital UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital McLean Hospital Heywood Hospital Melrose Wakefield Hospital Lawrence Memorial Hospital Anna Jaques Hospital New Hampshire Hospital North Shore Medical Center Concord Hospital HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital Exeter Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore Somerville Hospital Mount Auburn Hospital Newton Wellesley Hospital Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Cambridge Hospital Westborough State Hospital Whidden Memorial Hospital Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center Franciscan Hospital for Children Beverly Hospital Kindred Hospital Boston MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital North Shore Children's Hospital Salem Hospital & the Birthplace Arbour HRI Hospital Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital M I T Medical Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children's Hospital Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brigham & Women's Hospital New England Baptist Hospital VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus Tufts New England Medical Center 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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Cholesterol
- Cholesterol is naturally produced by the body, and is a building block for cell membranes and hormones. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol, conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. High cholesterol treatment includes lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), and medications such as statins, bile acid resins, and fibric acid derivatives.
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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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Muscle Cramps
- Muscle cramps are involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscles that do not relax. Extremely common, any muscles that have voluntary control, including some organs, are subject to cramp. Since there is such variety in the types of muscle cramps that can occur, many causes and preventative medications are known. Stretching is the most common way to stop or prevent most muscle cramps.
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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
- Corns and calluses are sometimes painful areas of thickened skin that appear between the toes and fingers or on the soles of the feet. Abnormal foot anatomy, ill-fitting footwear, and unusual gait can put increased pressure in specific areas, causing corns and calluses. Treatment may involve using over-the-counter salicylic-acid products, visiting a podiatrist to be fitted with an orthotic device, or surgical removal.
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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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