PAD: Intermittent Claudication
What Is It?
Intermittent claudication occurs when the leg muscles do not receive the oxygen rich blood required during exercise, causing leg pain felt as cramping in the hips, thighs, or calves.
The term comes from the Latin word which means "to limp."
Studies show that 5 percent of men and 2.5 percent of women 60 years of age or older have symptoms of intermittent claudication.
What causes intermittent claudication?
The majority of patients with this condition have cholesterol plaque build up in the arteries of their legs.
Similar risk factors that cause heart artery disease also are associated with claudication including cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
What does it feel like?
Typically one will feel an aching pain, cramping, tightness, or fatigue in the thigh, calf, or buttock while walking or during other activities that use the leg muscles.The discomfort occurs in muscle groups, not in joints.
To view a chart comparing types of leg pain, click here.
When will I feel it?
The pain will be present from one day to the next during the same activity. The pain will resolve completely within 2-3 minutes of resting but will occur again at the same distance once activity has been resumed.
What are my treatment choices for intermittent claudication?
There are several options for treatment in the following categories:
What will happen if I don't seek treatment for intermittent claudication?
Patients who have claudication are at extremely high risk for suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Peripheral Arterial Disease section was last modified: April 25, 2008 - 04:35 pm
