What is the difference between PAD and PVD?

PVD is the short form of Peripheral Vascular Diseases, while PAD is the short form of peripheral Arterial Diseases. Both PVD and PAD are most times used interchangeably, this is because they are a bit connected. PVD is the general name for all vascular diseases, and when we say vascular diseases, we are talking about diseases that can wreck damage to all the vessels in the body. Veins, arteries are two examples of vessels in the body. These vessels can be attacked by diseases; they can suffer from rupture or inflammation.

This means PAD is just a type of PVD. We have peripheral arterial diseases when there is damage on the arteries especially due to diseases. PVD can be classified into two, namely; functional PVD and organic PVD. When the damage done on the vessels do not affect their functionality, it is called Functional PVD, but if otherwise, it is called Organic PVD

Peripheral Vascular Disease is a broad term which is used to describe the diseases of the blood vessels outside the brain and heart. PVD mainly includes the arteries, both large and small, veins, capillaries and venules, which distributes the blood to and from all extremities, kidneys, and intestines. PVD has become a common condition which can lead to the loss of limbs or even death.

PVD is caused by diminished tissue perfusion occurring as a result of atherosclerosis accompanied by thrombi or emboli. In PAD, (Peripheral Artery disease) development of atherosclerotic plaques occurs in the walls of arteries mainly in limbs, intestines, and kidneys. PAD results in reduced tissue perfusion, and if it is not treated in time, it may lead to a certain kind of infection which causes gangrene, which can lead to amputation.