What is a PVR test’s main purpose? The Pulse Volume Recordings test is needed to obtain a valuable for accurate diagnosing procedure information about legs and arms blood flow. The PVR test is a painless and quick procedure that can help a medical specialist to detect such disorders as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Receiving the indexes for examining the pressure of blood in your legs and arms, the doctor must compare them for analyzing if the blood supply to the lower limbs is sufficient and for determining whether a patient has any health issues, such as narrowed vessels. What is a PVR test procedure, and do you need to be prepared for it? Generally, there is no need for special preparation. The specialists will explain everything in the process of medical examination that involves applying blood pressure cuffs and using the Doppler device.
When you may need a PVR test for legs and arms?
Peripheral arterial disease is an inflammatory disorder that affects the work of arteries of the lower or upper limbs. This disorder is characterized by narrowed vessels (atherosclerosis). In patients with PAD, normal blood flow is disturbed, mostly leading to the insufficient blood supply to the tissues of the legs. The specialist will assign you a PVR test in the event of noticing some of the following symptoms:
- muscle pain in the legs that cannot be relieved with pain killer;
- mobility limitation of the affected leg;
- tingling and numbness in the affected area;
- nail disorder that causes nails to grow abnormally thick;
- hair loss on legs;
- too pale or red skin of the limbs;
- rapid freezing of feet;
- sores on the skin;
- a lack or weak pulsation in the affected artery;
- muscle mass decreasing.
Intermittent claudication is considered one of the most common symptoms of PAD. Mostly, quite sharp pain while walking that is felt in a certain muscle group forces the patient to stop moving. An ill person may suffer due to increased pain during running, brisk walking, climbing stairs. This is due to the insufficient arterial blood supply to meet the oxygen demand of the muscles during physical activity. After a short rest, the pain stops, and the patient can again walk a certain distance. A PVR test will help a doctor to understand whether these symptoms are signs of PAD.
High risks groups
Risk factors include smoking, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, elevated homocysteine levels. In smokers, the risk of developing atherosclerosis of the vessels is 2 times higher. Smoking is more correlated with the development of intermittent claudication than any other risk factor.
PAD disease prognosis
The course of the disease depends on many factors and, in particular, on how successfully your doctor can cope with the main cause of PAD that is atherosclerosis. The treatment outcomes and efficiency also depend on patients, how they will deal with poor lifestyle choices, and get rid of those habits that provoke blood pressure issues. The staff of an Advanced Medical Care center warns that despite the fact that atherosclerosis cannot be completely cured, the process of the disease can still be slowed down or even stopped if undergo the PVR test, diagnose the disease, and create a personalized therapy program.
