What Is Intermittent Claudication?

In reality, intermittent claudication is just a symptom of a certain disease. It is a very prominent sign of a health condition called the Peripheral Artery Disease or simply PAD. But just the same, there are instances where in peripheral artery disease do not show any symptom at all. There is also a possibility that it shows other symptoms other than intermittent claudication.

In a crude estimate however, intermittent claudication is observed in about 30 to 50% of the patients with PAD. Claudication literally means, “to limp” and that is exactly how people of this disease suffer. This condition causes a person to suffer leg pains during and after exercise or even while walking.

When intermittent claudication happens, blood flow becomes insufficient during physical activities. Blood flow maybe normal during rest, but otherwise, blood vessels are blocked and oxygen supply becomes scant.

There are also instances that because exercise requires a higher amount of energy, the body responds in such a way it reduces the production of chemicals that help open the blood vessels. Instead, it increases the ones that narrow it, such as thromboxame, angiotensin II, and serotinin, among others.

It is also observed that people suffering from peripheral artery disease have abnormalities in their blood cells. It is more prone to forming clots than those who don’t have the disease. This is also one cause why intermittent claudication happens in people with PAD.

The symptoms of intermittent claudication are almost the same with the symptoms of arthritis and other nerve problems such as neuropathy. Leg pains may even go up their thighs and their buttocks. If left untreated, it may cause impotence in men. In general, the specific symptoms of this disease are observable and depend upon the arteries that are affected.

Intermittent claudication is not very common disease. Only 4 out of 100 or 4% of people aged 55 years old and above suffer from it. This condition is a lot more common in men than it is in women and it is characterized by the hardening of their arteries.

The symptoms of this disease can get worse if it is left untreated, especially in the first few months. The body needs time to adjust to the restricted flow of blood. With proper medication, the condition should be better in 2 to 3 months at least. The improvement may also be credited to the natural body response of opening up the smaller arteries within the affected area, which is medically termed as collateral circulation.

The most common cause of this disease is calcium and cholesterol buildup inside the arteries. It occurs in people who are a habitual smoker as well as those with diabetes. People with very high cholesterol levels are also prone to this disease.

The person’s risk of losing his leg due to the disease is very small. In fact, the doctors will tend to undergo all necessary methods to avoid doing it. Statistics show that 95% of the patients do not lose their legs at all. The need for amputation among patients is only 2%.

There are certain things you can do to prevent intermittent claudication. For one thing, smoking has to be stopped. Tobacco and cigarettes are very harmful, as they tend to accelerate the hardening of the arteries. And as they do that, they also block the smaller blood vessels and so both the amount of oxygen and blood sent throughout the body is reduced.

Cholesterol has to be removed from the diet as well. People prone to this disease have to lose weight, for the simple fact that heavier individuals require more blood to carry around their weight. A dietician may be consulted so that one’s weight may be regulated.

Exercise is also necessary. But for those who have contracted the disease already, it is a must that they check out with their doctors the type of exercise they can do against those they cannot perform. Supervised exercises may also be requested and most of these are available in some fitness centers.