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Recommended walking programs include:
- Walking until you feel moderate pain or as far as you can.
- Resting to relieve pain.
- Walking again.
- Repeating the walk-rest-walk cycle for 30 to 45 minutes.
- Walking three or more days a week.
Medication
Treatment for intermittent claudication may include one or more of the following: Smoking cessation Exercise, preferably a walking program Treatment of related medical problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and/or high blood sugar levels (glucose intolerance or type 2 …
Procedures
Claudication is often first treated by making lifestyle changes. This can reduce your risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Medicine and surgery may be needed in some cases. Treatment may include: Stopping smoking Exercising, such …
Nutrition
Oct 03, 2019 · Treatment Frequent, moderate exercise. In people who can exercise, undertaking frequent, moderate exercise may increase how far... Stop smoking. Smoking damages the lining of blood vessels, reduces levels of good fats, or high-density lipoproteins... Eat a healthful diet. Saturated and trans fats ...
How to cure claudication?
Is there a cure for claudication pain?
What is neurogenic claudication, and how is it treated?
What does neurogenic claudication feel like?
Which drugs improve claudication?
Pentoxifyl- line, the only approved claudication drug in the United States, has modest efficacy in improving treadmill exercise performance. Other drugs shown to be of some benefit in patients with claudication include propionyl-L-carnitine, cilostazol and possibly prostaglandin derivatives.
Can you reverse claudication?
In most cases, lifestyle changes, exercise and claudication medications are enough to slow the progression or even reverse the symptoms of PAD.Jun 2, 2021
How serious is claudication?
Claudication is generally considered a warning of significant atherosclerosis, indicating an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. Other complications of peripheral artery disease due to atherosclerosis include: Skin lesions that don't heal.Mar 2, 2022
What is the drug of choice for claudication?
The US FDA has approved two drugs for the management of intermittent claudication: pentoxifylline and cilostazol.
Is walking good for claudication?
Walking and other exercises benefit patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), including those with intermittent claudication. Exercise programs, which may be home-based, increase walking time and distance. Exercise has National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Level 1 evidence of efficacy.
Does aspirin help claudication?
21 (HealthDay News) -- Aspirin works as well as Plavix in patients with blocked leg arteries, a new European study finds. People with the condition, called peripheral artery disease, often suffer from intermittent claudication, which is pain while walking because of decreased blood supply to the legs.Feb 21, 2022
What can be done for claudication in the legs?
Options include:Angioplasty. This procedure improves blood flow by widening a damaged artery. ... Vascular surgery. During this type of surgery, a surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body to replace the vessel that's causing claudication.Mar 2, 2022
How do you clear your arteries in your legs?
Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to your legs. Fatty deposits can build up inside the arteries and block blood flow. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that keeps the artery open. Angioplasty and stent placement are two ways to open blocked peripheral arteries.Jan 28, 2021
How far can you walk with claudication?
People with intermittent claudication who participate in structured exercise programmes can walk about 80 metres further without experiencing leg pain than those who do not do the programme. They can also walk about 120 metres further overall.Apr 10, 2018
How do you treat intermittent claudication naturally?
Intermittent Claudication (Holistic)Get some extra E. Take 400 to 600 IU of vitamin E every day to improve blood flow and increase walking capacity.Try policosanol for your platelets. Reduce platelet stickiness and improve walking capacity by taking 10 mg of this natural supplement twice a day.Trim the unhealthy fat.
How is claudication diagnosed?
How is claudication diagnosed?Ankle-brachial index (ABI). For this test, blood pressure is taken in your arms and legs. ... Auscultation. In this test, the doctor listens to the arteries in your belly (abdomen) or legs using a stethoscope. ... Doppler ultrasound. ... Angiogram (also called an arteriogram).
Which medication is used to for intermittent claudication associated with peripheral artery disease?
The drug cilostazol increases blood flow to the limbs both by keeping the blood thin and by widening the blood vessels. It specifically helps treat leg pain in people who have peripheral artery disease.
How is intermittent claudication treated?
Intermittent claudication is usually treated conservatively, with the primary goal of treatment being modification of risk factors.
What is a prevention plan for intermittent claudication?
A prevention plan for intermittent claudication may also be used to prevent or lessen the progress of PAD associated with intermittent claudication once it has been diagnosed. Consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment. Previous Section Next Section.
What is the best medication for blood clots?
In some cases, medication (s) may be prescribed. Prevention of blood clots with antiplatelet medication, such as aspirin or other medications. Medications such as pentoxifylline or cilostazol, that may improve walking distances in some cases.
What is an open trial?
Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What is the best treatment for high blood pressure?
Exercise, preferably a walking program. Treatment of related medical problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and/or high blood sugar levels (glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes). Treatment for these problems includes diet and exercise. In some cases, medication (s) may be prescribed.
Can you amputation a limb?
In a small percentage of cases where all other treatments have not been effective, amputation of the affected limb may be necessary. Patients who smoke or who have diabetes are at increased risk for poor outcomes in treating intermittent claudication.
Can intermittent claudication cause atherosclerosis?
Because many persons who have intermittent claudication also have atherosclerotic disease such as peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery disease, and/or blockages of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis), aggressively modifying risk factors for atherosclerosis can help prevent intermittent claudication.
Overview
Claudication is the name for muscle pain that happens when you’re active and stops when you rest (it’s sometimes called “intermittent claudication”).
Symptoms and Causes
All the cells in your body require oxygen to function. When you’re more active, even just for a light walk, the cells in your muscles need more oxygen to do their job. People who have circulation problems can experience pain when they’re more active because their muscles need more oxygen than their circulation provides.
Management and Treatment
Treating claudication is important because it’s usually an indicator of peripheral artery disease or similar circulatory diseases that are life-changing and even deadly. Treatment can take several forms and your doctor may encourage you to do one or more of the following:
Prevention
There are many things you can do to prevent vascular claudication or delay its onset. These include:
Frequently Asked Questions
Claudication is a symptom that you should always talk about with your healthcare provider because it’s a key symptom in peripheral artery disease. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or delay the worsening of claudication symptoms to the point where they impact your life.
Overview
Intermittent claudication is muscle pain that happens when you’re active and stops when you rest. In some cases, the pain is intense enough that it even interferes with simpler activities like walking. Claudication -related pain happens because of a decrease in blood circulation, which can indicate or serious health conditions.
Possible Causes
Intermittent claudication is a circulatory problem where a part of your body doesn't have enough blood flow. That lack of blood flow, known as ischemia (iss-key-me-uh), means the affected areas of your body don’t have enough oxygen. If ischemia lasts for too long, that can damage the affected area and even cause the affected cells to die.
Care and Treatment
Though intermittent claudication is a symptom rather than a specific health condition, a healthcare provider will likely order medical tests if you have this symptom. Those tests can pinpoint the cause of the pain, ensure that it isn’t another condition or problem, and help guide treatment.
When to Call the Doctor
If you have intermittent claudication, early diagnosis and treatment are very important to avoid or limit serious problems in the future. Several conditions have similar symptoms to intermittent claudication but are much more serious.
How to reduce risk factors for claudication?
You can reduce your risk factors by: Treating high blood pressure. Lowering your LDL (bad) cholesterol, as directed by your doctor. Raising your HDL (good) cholesterol, as directed by your doctor.
Why is it important to reduce the risk of claudication?
Hardened arteries (atherosclerosis) that cause claudication in your legs can also affect the blood vessels in your heart and brain. For this reason, it is very important to reduce your risk factors for atherosclerosis. This can help prevent claudication as well as heart attack and stroke.
Why is walking so painful?
Over time, it can become too painful to walk. It may be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce the blood flow to your arms and legs. Risk factors are the same as those for hardened arteries (atherosclerosis). Treatment focuses first on making lifestyle changes.
What causes claudication in the legs?
What causes claudication? Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is very common, mainly in people over age 50. PAD is caused by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs or in the body’s main artery (the aorta). This can reduce blood flow to muscles in your calf, thigh, or buttocks.
Why does claudication hurt when walking?
Claudication is pain in your thigh, calf, or buttocks that happens when you walk. It can make you limp. It may be a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). This is when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce the blood flow to your legs. At first, claudication pain occurs when you walk a certain distance and goes away when you rest.
What is contrast dye?
A thin, flexible tube is put into a leg artery. A contrast dye is injected into the artery. The contrast dye makes the arteries and veins show up clearly on the X-ray.
What is the name of the sound that is heard when you are whooshing?
This is done to see if a whooshing sound (called a bruit ) is present. A bruit means that blood flow is limited in the area. Doppler ultrasound. This test uses a Doppler probe inside an ultrasound probe to check the speed and direction of blood flow in the blood vessels.
How to stop claudication pain?
The best treatment for claudication depends on the underlying cause and the severity or extent of symptoms. Resting by standing still for a few minutes will normally stop the pain and discomfort that mild to moderate claudication causes.
What is claudication in exercise?
Claudication is muscular pain, cramping, or fatigue that typically occurs during exercise and goes away with rest. Claudication is primarily a symptom of conditions that reduce blood flow in the legs, especially peripheral artery disease (PAD). The term claudication comes from the Latin word for limp, which is ‘claudicare’.
How long does it take for claudication to go away?
Symptoms typically occur during muscular exercise and go away with 1–2 minutes. Trusted Source.
What does it mean when your calf hurts?
weakness. tiredness. aching. burning. heaviness or a ‘dead weight’ feeling. At first, claudication often causes a dull, aching pain in the lower calf. The initial pain or sensation can also travel to, or develop in, other muscle groups, such as: thigh. buttock.
What are the factors that affect claudication?
The following factors can heavily impact the severity and extent of claudication symptoms: any underlying conditions. pattern and degree of narrowing or blockage. blood flow rate to the affected muscular bed.
How old is too old to have claudication?
The risk of developing claudication increases with age. Trusted Source. , specifically from 45 to 75 years, with the highest risk being from 65 to 75 years of age.
Why does claudication occur?
Causes. Reduced blood flow in the arteries of the lower body or legs is the ultimate cause of claudication. A reduction in blood is usually a symptom of atherosclerotic occlusive conditions. These are conditions where fats, debris, and immune cells form a buildup called plaque that sticks to blood vessel walls.
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Coping and Support
Specialist to consult
Preparing For Your Appointment
- The goals of treating claudication and peripheral artery disease are to reduce pain and manage the risk factors that contribute to heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Exercise is an important part of claudication treatment. Exercise reduces pain, increases exercise duration, im…
What Medical Tests Are Likely with This Symptom?
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
How Is This Symptom Treated?
- A healthy lifestyle can help improve treatment outcomes and lower risks associated with claudication and peripheral artery disease. Recommended lifestyle changes include the following: 1. Quit smoking.Smoking greatly increases the risk of complications of peripheral artery disease. Talk to your health care provider if you need help quitting. 2. Exercise.Follow the exercise plan re…
What Can I Do at Home to Treat This Symptom?
- Learning all you can about what's causing your claudication may help you better manage the condition. Some people also find it helpful to talk with other people who are going through similar experiences. In a support group, you may find encouragement, advice, and maybe even an exercise partner or two. Ask your health care provider if there are any support groups in your area.
How Can This Symptom Be Prevented?
- You're likely to start by seeing your health care provider. You may be referred to a doctor trained in heart diseases (cardiologist) or a blood vessel (vascular) surgeon. To make the best of your appointment time, be prepared to answer the following questions: 1. When did symptoms begin? 2. Do you have pain when you're walking or exercising, when you're at rest, or both? 3. On a scal…