|
Intermittent Claudication FAQs What is intermittent claudication? Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. In peripheral arterial disease, the arteries that supply blood to the legs become clogged with fatty deposits. The symptoms of intermittent claudication include aches or cramps in the calf, buttock, or thigh muscles that occur when you walk or exercise, and then stop when you rest. How many people suffer from intermittent claudication? Intermittent claudication affects an estimated 4 million people, most over the age of 55. Unfortunately, an estimated 75% of all intermittent claudication sufferers do not seek medical help, often because they do not realize that intermittent claudication is a treatable medical condition. What are risk factors for intermittent claudication? You are at a greater risk of suffering from intermittent claudication if you:
How can I reduce my risk of developing intermittent claudication? You can decrease your risk of developing intermittent claudication, or possibly prevent worsening claudication by:
How can a doctor diagnose intermittent claudication? A doctor may diagnose intermittent claudication based on a patient's description of symptoms. A doctor might also perform tests to determine the blood pressure in the legs during rest and while exercising. This test is called the ankle/brachial index, or ABI. Is my leg pain a sign of a more serious medical condition? Your leg pain may be a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. Also known as "hardening of the arteries," peripheral arterial disease occurs when arteries that supply blood to your legs become clogged with fatty deposits, a condition called atherosclerosis. It is not uncommon for people who have peripheral arterial disease to also have atherosclerosis in arteries in other parts of the body, especially the heart and brain. Atherosclerosis is a serious health problem that can lead to heart attack or stroke if left untreated. What is the relationship between intermittent claudication and peripheral arterial disease? Intermittent claudication is a SYMPTOM of peripheral arterial disease. Peripheral arterial disease occurs when arteries in your legs become clogged with fatty deposits. These deposits can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen to leg muscles resulting in pain felt during exercise, known as intermittent claudication. Peripheral Arterial Disease What is peripheral arterial disease? Peripheral arterial disease occurs when fatty deposits build up in the leg arteries, decreasing blood supply to the legs. When leg muscles are deprived of blood and oxygen, pain may occur during muscle exertion, such as when walking or exercising. Peripheral arterial disease is estimated to afflict approximately 10% of the adult population over 55. The main risk factors for peripheral arterial disease are:
What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is another name for "hardening of the arteries" and causes peripheral arterial disease. It is a disease process during which cholesterol deposits form in the walls of arteries. These fatty deposits restrict blood flow and decrease the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the various organs and tissues of the body. When atherosclerosis occurs in leg arteries, it can lead to intermittent claudication. Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease characterized by pain in the legs or buttocks during exercise. Is atherosclerosis related to intermittent claudication? Yes. Atherosclerosis is another name for "hardening of the arteries" and causes peripheral arterial disease. Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. Intermittent Claudication Symptoms What are the symptoms of intermittent claudication?
These symptoms may be felt in one leg or in both legs and occur during walking or exercising. The symptoms subside within minutes of when you stop walking or exercising. Why do I feel pain only in my legs or buttocks? If you have peripheral arterial disease, then the arteries in your legs are clogged with fatty deposits that can restrict blood flow. During exercise your legs have an increased demand for blood and oxygen that cannot be met when the arteries of the legs are blocked. Thus, during exercise it is the legs that receive insufficient blood and oxygen to operate effectively, resulting in pain in the legs. Why do I feel pain in only one leg but not the other? It is possible to experience pain in one leg but not in the other leg when you suffer from peripheral arterial disease. In peripheral arterial disease, arteries in the legs become clogged with fatty deposits resulting in pain during exercise. If these fatty deposits are more severe in one leg, then you may feel pain only on that side. If the fatty deposits occur in both legs equally, then you will likely have the pain of intermittent claudication in both legs. Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease and is characterized by pain felt in the legs or buttocks during exercise. Why does my leg pain subside when I stop walking/exercising? When you stop walking or exercising, the demand for oxygen and blood in the legs decreases. Even if you have blocked arteries, as is the case when you have peripheral arterial disease and intermittent claudication, your arteries may still supply your legs with enough oxygen and blood when at rest so that you do not feel pain. Should I continue to walk if I feel leg pain? This depends on the pain you are feeling. If your leg pain has been diagnosed as intermittent claudication, then you may engage in a walking program. Walking programs for intermittent claudication usually involve walking until you cannot walk any farther and then stopping for a while. When the pain subsides, you can begin walking again. If you follow this pattern, you may increase the distance walked before having to stop due to pain. If you feel pain in your legs unrelated to, or in addition to, intermittent claudication, then you may want to speak to your doctor about the other pain as well. Who Suffers from Intermittent Claudication Who gets intermittent claudication? Over 4 million Americans have intermittent claudication, many of them over the age of 55. Intermittent claudication can afflict both men and women. If you have one or more risk factors for intermittent claudication, then you have a greater chance of experiencing this painful condition. Can women get intermittent claudication? Yes, women can and do suffer from intermittent claudication. Can men get intermittent claudication? Yes, men can suffer from intermittent claudication and they tend to be afflicted more often than women. Do most elderly people develop intermittent claudication? Most elderly people do not develop intermittent claudication, but it is estimated that approximately 4-5 million people are affected. Is intermittent claudication an inevitable consequence of aging? No, intermittent claudication is not an inevitable consequence of aging. People often mistake intermittent claudication as just a part of growing older because the symptoms are slow in onset and often are not fully manifested until after the age of 55. However, intermittent claudication does not happen to all older people, only to those with peripheral arterial disease. Because many people mistakenly attribute their intermittent claudication leg pain to their age, they do not seek medical help for this debilitating condition. In fact, it has been estimated that nearly 75% of people suffering from intermittent claudication do not seek medical help. If you experience intermittent claudication, regardless of your age, please ask your doctor about it. There are treatments available that may help you walk more easily. Can younger people get intermittent claudication too? Yes. Anyone who has peripheral arterial disease may experience the symptoms of intermittent claudication, however, the condition is rare before age 40. Intermittent Claudication and Other Medical Diseases Is intermittent claudication related to diabetes? If you have diabetes, then you are at greater risk for developing intermittent claudication than non-diabetics. Diabetes itself is a known risk factor for intermittent claudication, but it also increases the likelihood that you will have several other risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and excess weight. Diabetes is a common endocrine disease characterized by the body's inability to regulate blood sugar or glucose levels. Controlling your risk factors for intermittent claudication can help prevent you from developing intermittent claudication or prevent existing intermittent claudication from worsening. Is intermittent claudication related to high blood pressure? High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a risk factor for intermittent claudication. If you have high blood pressure, then you have twice as great a chance of developing intermittent claudication as someone in comparable health who does not have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure above 140 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure above 90 mm Hg. Controlling your risk factors for intermittent claudication can help prevent you from developing intermittent claudication or prevent existing intermittent claudication from worsening. Is intermittent claudication related to cholesterol levels? If you have a poor cholesterol profile, that is low levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and/or high levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), then you are at a greater risk for developing intermittent claudication. Studies have shown that when cholesterol levels are improved, the symptoms of intermittent claudication can remain stable or even get better. Controlling your risk factors for intermittent claudication can help prevent you from developing intermittent claudication or prevent existing intermittent claudication from worsening. Does smoking influence intermittent claudication? Smoking is the most important risk factor for the development of intermittent claudication. Quitting cigarette smoking may lessen your intermittent claudication symptoms, as well as having many other beneficial effects on your overall health. Controlling your risk factors can help prevent you from developing intermittent claudication or prevent it from worsening. What is the difference between intermittent claudication and arthritis? Simply stated, intermittent claudication is a cramping or aching pain that develops in the legs or buttocks when walking or exercising that subsides when resting. Intermittent claudication is a result of fatty deposits that restrict blood flow forming in the arteries to the legs. Osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis, involves the breakdown of the cartilage that surrounds the joints. The function of this cartilage is to provide cushioning for the joints. Thus when the cartilage breaks down, the joints lose their cushioning and bones rub against each other, causing pain and loss of movement.
© 2000 Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., Rockville, MD. |
||