What is claudication?
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Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Claudication can be cramping pain or weak feeling that occurs in your legs because of poor circulation. The symptoms typically begin when you start to exercise and go away a short time after you rest.
Claudication is caused by the arteries in your legs not receiving enough blood and oxygen (this lack of oxygen is known as ischemia). This happens because the arteries in your legs may be narrowed or blocked. It is critical to recognize claudication, because it is a serious warning symptom of an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
Some of the typical symptoms of claudication include:
- Discomfort or pain in your legs that happens when you walk and goes away when you rest (also called intermittent claudication)
- Tightness, heaviness, cramping, or weakness in one or both of your legs
Claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is caused by atherosclerosis.
Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:
- Smoking, or a history of smoking
- High cholesterol levels in the blood
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Family history of heart or vascular disease
Claudication can be cramping pain or weak feeling that occurs in your legs because of poor circulation. The symptoms typically begin when you start to exercise and go away a short time after you rest. Claudication is caused by the arteries in your... More -
American Heart Association answered:Intermittent claudication is pain, cramping or fatigue in the legs and buttocks that occurs during activity and subsides when a person stands still. It’s caused by poor blood circulation in leg arteries often due to plaque buildup. It is a common, early symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This condition may occur in both legs, and the symptoms often get worse over time. Smokers have a much greater risk for this condition. A program of daily walking for short periods, with intermittent stops when pain or cramping occur, may help improve the symptoms, but it is necessary to treat the underlying conditions that cause these symptoms.
Intermittent claudication is pain, cramping or fatigue in the legs and buttocks that occurs during activity and subsides when a person stands still. It’s caused by poor blood circulation in leg arteries often due to plaque buildup. It is a... More -
SCAI answered:Claudication, or intermittent claudication, is cramping in the leg or leg pain that occurs during exercise, especially walking, and typically stops at rest. This pain is caused by blockages in the blood vessels leading to the legs that prevent enough blood from traveling through the blood vessel - a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD).
The pain from claudication can be debilitating to quality of life. Additionally, the underlying peripheral artery disease causing the pain should be treated through lifestyle changes and medication and sometimes an angioplasty procedure to unblock specific blockages. Angioplasty involves insertion of a thin tube called a catheter into the blood vessel and positioning a balloon on the tip of the catheter so that the blockage is pushed against the blood vessel walls when the balloon is expanded. Without treatment, peripheral artery disease can occasionally progress and result in amputation of the feet or legs.Claudication, or intermittent claudication, is cramping in the leg or leg pain that occurs during exercise, especially walking, and typically stops at rest. This pain is caused by blockages in the blood vessels leading to the legs that prevent... More
