Intermittent Claudication, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Intermittent Claudication, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases
Intermittent claudication is the cramping pain in the leg induced by exercise, typically caused by poor blood circulation in the arteries.
Normal in this disorder is that the person will feel the pain and lazy feeling in the legs when walking.
This becomes better with rest.
It can also be painful at night, but it may help to sit with the legs hanging off the bed.
The feet are pale and cold, and ulcers on the legs normally grow slowly.
If the person smokes and has diabetes and high blood pressure, the risk of narrow blood vessels rises significantly.
Causes
Atherosclerosis, i.e. deposition of cholesterol and fat particles inside the blood vessels, is the main cause.
The blood vessels become narrowed and can become so narrow that they cannot carry adequate blood, and thus too little oxygen.
Atherosclerosis narrows the arteries and makes them stiffer and harder.
That is because the arteries get clogged with clumps of fat, cholesterol and other material, called atherosclerotic plaques.
These plaques can make arteries so narrow that less blood can flow through them.
When the muscles of the legs are not getting enough oxygen, it causes pain, and gradually the weakening of muscles as well.
When the person walks, the increasing oxygen need and pain happens.
By resting, the muscles have a chance to recover and the pain ceases.
Oxygen is the fuel that muscles need to contract.
Other disorders linked with similar symptoms are:
1. Spinal stenosis,
2. Peripheral neuropathy and
3. Certain musculoskeletal conditions.
Risk factors
1. Smoking is the most important
2. Diabetes type 1 and type 2
3. High blood pressure
4. High cholesterol
5. Obesity (a body mass index over 30)
6. Age older than 70 years
7. Age older than 50 years if you also smoke or have diabetes
8. A family history of atherosclerosis
Diagnosis
The disease develops gradually.
Poor blood supply can cause the typical symptoms, primarily pain in the legs when walking.
Tests
1. Checking the pulses in the palms and feet
2. Exercise testing to determine the maximum distance the person can walk without pain
3. Ankle-brachial index to compare the blood pressure in the ankles to the blood pressure in the arms
Diagnosis can be confirmed by ultrasound, MRI
Treatment
The purpose of treatment is to slow down the disease progression and reduce symptoms, prevent gangrene, and to prevent stroke and heart attack.
Treatment of intermittent claudication and peripheral artery disease can help prevent the disease from getting worse and reduce the symptoms.
Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and participating in a regular exercise regimen, are often the first steps in treating intermittent claudication
If there is diabetes, proper control of the disease is important to prevent a worsening of the disease
There are no effective drugs against poor circulation in the legs, but medicines are important contributors to halt disease
progression.
It is advised to anyone who can withstand such drugs to use blood-thinning medicines.
The doctor might give aspirin to reduce the chance of blood clots.
He or she might also prescribe other medicines that help keep the blood from clotting, such as clopidogrel, dipyridamole and ticlopidine.
Cilostazol or pentoxifylline tablets may help improve blood flow and reduce the symptoms.
Surgery
Cases of claudication and obstructive artery disease that are more serious may need angioplasty to widen the blood vessel with balloon or a stent.
The doctor may advise bypass surgery using a healthy blood vessel from another part to replace the vessel causing the claudication.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Intermittent Claudication
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Atherosclerosis
Chapter 8 Buerger’s Disease
Epilogue