Peripheral Vascular Disease Center - Reading, PAReading 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 Reading * Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Cardiology Associates of West Reading Ltd  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  Berks Cardiologists  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Heart Specialists of Lancaster PC  Heart Specialists of Lancaster PC  Heart Specialists of Lancaster PC  Heart Specialists of Lancaster PC  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Pottstown Medical Specialists  Brandyvine Valley Cardiovascular Associates  Brandyvine Valley Cardiovascular Associates  Brandyvine Valley Cardiovascular Associates  Brandyvine Valley Cardiovascular Associates  Pottsville Internist Associates  PMA Medical Specialists LLC  Pottsville Internist Associates  Pottsville Internist Associates  Robert M Greco, MD  Lancaster Cardiology Group  Cardiothoracic Surgery  Heart Specialists of Lancaster PC  Todd R Banning DO  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Drs Cassel & Snyder  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Anticoagulation Management Service  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Peripheral Vascular Surgeons  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Heart Care Group PC  Drs Cassel & Snyder  Heart Care Group PC  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd  The Heart Group Ltd Reading, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Reading
Nearby Reading Hospitals *The Reading Hospital & Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital St Joseph Medical Center Wernersville State Hospital Ephrata Community Hospital Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Brandywine Hospital Coatesville VA Medical Center Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lebanon VA Medical Center Saint John Vianney Hospital The Good Samaritan Hospital KidsPeace Children's Hospital Phoenixville Hospital Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest Schuylkill Medicall Center South Jackson Street Schuylkill Medical Center East Norwegian Street Lancaster General Hospital Philhaven Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital Malvern Institute Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown Eagleville Hospital Paoli Hospital The Chester County Hospital Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital LifeCare Hospitals of Chester County Sacred Heart Hospital St Luke's Quakertown Hospital Devereux Beneto Children's Behavioral Health Center Grand View Hospital Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital Allentown State Hospital Montgomery County Emergency Service St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Norristown State Hospital St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus Westfield Hospital Montgomery Hospital Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg 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. |
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