Intermittent claudication is pain and discomfort associated with walking and limping caused by changes in the arteries. Intermittent claudication must be treated as it can even lead to leg amputation. What are the symptoms of intermittent claudication and how is claudication diagnosed?

Intermittent claudicationis not just a limp. Intermittent claudication is sometimes called the disease of shop windows. Why? Well, patients experience such severe pain in the leg that it forces them to stop often, which gives a forced opportunity to admire the exhibitions.

The word "claudication" means limping, but in medicine it is understood more broadly as discomfort or pain associated with walking. Chromation can be caused by changes in the arterial system - then it is referred to asintermittent claudication- or caused by other non-vascular diseases - then it is referred to aspseudo claudication . When atherosclerotic plaque is involved,abdominal claudicationmay appear, which is manifested by abdominal pain after eating a meal.

Intermittent claudication: reasons

Intermittent claudication as a consequence of the gradual narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the lower extremities. The culprit is atherosclerotic plaque (made of, among others, cholesterol, fat and protein compounds, calcium s alts), which adheres to the wall of the artery, which leads to its hardening and stiffness. The vessel lumen (inner diameter) narrows, blood flows with increasing difficulty, and less and less well-oxygenated blood flows into the limb. If the artery is completely overgrown with plaque, the blood will not reach the toes, and this may result in the development of necrotic changes.

Intermittent claudication: symptoms

Intermittent claudication develops slowly, it is easy to ignore the first ailments. A slight pain in the calf when walking on flat ground is a factor of muscle fatigue or uncomfortable shoes. Over time, however, the pain becomes more and more intense, radiating to the foot, thigh, hip and even the buttocks. Its location depends on which of the arteries is narrowed, e.g. when the popliteal artery is narrowed, pain will appear in the calf. For some people, the only symptom of developing medical conditions is numbness in the foot - yesstrong that you cannot stand firmly on it. When the sick person stops, the numbness and pain go away after 5-10 minutes, but come back when he starts walking. The gait of people suffering from intermittent claudication is called the telegraphist gait, because the patient walks at a pace similar to sending signals - walk, pain, stop, walk, pain, stop.

Intermittent claudication: diagnosis

Anyone who experiences similar ailments should have the entire cardiovascular system checked, because patients with intermittent claudication are 4 times more likely to suffer from it. It is worth doing a Doppler ultrasound, which allows you to assess blood flow in large arteries, reveal narrowing and obstruction of arteries, atherosclerotic deposits and vascular damage.

Intermittent claudication: lifestyle change necessary

When ultrasound detects dangerous changes in arteries, a lifestyle change is necessary in addition to specialist treatment. You have to quit smoking, treat chronic diseases (especially hypertension and diabetes), lose weight, start exercises that will improve blood flow and - as doctors say - cry and walk, because thanks to this the limb produces the so-called collateral circulation, i.e. natural bypass.

Intermittent claudication: treatment

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the patient's compliance. To prevent the disease from progressing and causing fewer complications, take antiplatelet drugs (acetylsalicylic acid), lower LDL cholesterol below 100 mg / dl (up to 70 mg / dl at high risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes), stabilize blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg (in patients with diabetes and kidney diseases, it should not exceed 130/80 mmHg), take medications prescribed by a doctor.

The body will be supported by L-carnitine, vitamin E and omega-3 acids.

Surgical treatment of intermittent claudication is also possible. Typically, this involves creating new pathways for blood flow, i.e. stentgraphs or bypasses. Patients should know that it is worth making every effort to control the disease, because 70% of People with poorly treated disease or not following medical recommendations, amputation occurs due to critical ischemia and tissue death.

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Cardiology