Intermittent Claudication

Intermittent Claudication General Information

Intermittent Claudication is the generic medical term given to a non-permanent pain under the form of cramps, aches, fatigue or numbness that affects the calf (possibly the thigh or buttock as well, but such cases are rare occurrences). This condition is induced by exercise or general physical effort, and is relieved through resting. The pain experienced by the patient may be mild to severe, and it is caused by the obstruction of the arterial flow in the muscle (muscle ischaemia). This is a very common affection that is spread over 6 to 10% of the adult population, and its rate of incidence greatly increases with age, reaching a rate of occurrence of up to 20% in elderly patients.

Intermittent Claudication may appear as a “normal” condition to a surprisingly large part of the population, and from this reason it is very common that the patients do not bring the situation to the attention of their personal health care specialist, which is a serious problem. The mortality rate is significantly higher in patients affected by this condition, and failing to diagnose it early on and to treat it properly may prove a lethal mistake. It is highly advised that if you consider that you are affected by this medical condition you should immediately contact your personal health care specialist. In most cases, this affection is also a symptom of underlining affections of the peripherial circulatory system, such as severe atherosclerotic disease.

Intermittent Claudication Symptoms

As stated before, atherosclerosis is one of the major underlining factors of Intermittent Claudication. However, there are a number of other factors that may increase the risk of a patient being affected by this condition. The most dangerous of these is tobacco consumption, either through smoking, chewing or inhaling, with a rate of incidence of over 300% compared to non-consumers and directly linked to the severity degree of the affection. Apart from that, other factors such as age, hypertension, diabetes, hyperhomocysteinaemia and hyperlipidaemia play an important role in the occurrence of artherosclerosis and Intermittent Claudication. Younger patients may develop this condition as well, based on underlining affections such as external compression syndromes, popliteal artery entrapment, fibromuscular dysplasia or cystic adventitial disease which are commonly encountered in athletes and highly active persons.

Each case of Intermittent Claudication may be characterized by a number of symptoms such as redness in the limb, temperature and / or pulse drop, cyanosis or atrophic changes. Some patients may experience some or all of the following: pain, paralysis, paraesthesia, perishing cold, an increase in pallor; however, it should be noted that the symptoms are not always the same as they vary from one patient to another. There may be other symptoms that are not listed here, so it is highly advised that if you suspect that you are affected by this condition or if you experience any abnormal and bothersome symptoms you should immediately contact your personal health specialist, in order to further check the causes of the symptoms, to determine the exact diagnosis and to obtain a treatment for the condition.

Intermittent Claudication Treatment

As Intermittent Claudication is mainly an affection of the peripheral arteries, the patient is subject to the same risks as patients suffering from cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases. In such cases, treatment aims to improve the condition both by reducing the risks through prevention as well as to relieve the symptoms through medication therapy. Prevention factors include smoking cessation and general tobacco consumption cessation. Smoking is one of the highest risk factors in the appearance of cardiovascular events – in the case of atherosclerosis; smoking patients have a higher risk of amputation due to an increase in the progression rate of the affection. In cases of Intermittent Claudication studies have shown a substantial improvement in the patients’ condition once they quit smoking, compared to smokers.

Antiplatelet drugs are an effective factor in lowering the risks of occurrence of cardiovascular events, as well as in reducing the risks of arterial blockages. Statins have also been proved to help with this, and their usage also helps improve the symptoms in patients affected by Intermittent Claudication. Patients should also undergo diabetes screening; keeping blood glucose levels monitored may reduce the rate of occurrence for severe cardiovascular accidents, although it does not have any effect on peripheral artery disease. Also, while therapy might have a beneficial role in the prevention of myocardial infarction, it also does not affect in any way the evolution of peripheral vascular affections. While blood pressure control has not been extensively tested as a means to help keep Claudication cases under control, it is a valuable tool in greatly reducing the rate of occurrence of severe cardiovascular events, in the central or peripheral circulatory system. However, it is still not clear if it has any effects on the evolution and treatment of Intermittent Claudication.

Last but not least, physical exercise has been shown to be a great tool in improving the general health condition of the patient, as well as providing a substantial improvement over the symptoms of Claudication. Medicine treatment of this condition typically consists in a long-term therapy with oral cilostazol. 12 to 24 weeks may be sufficient in improving the patient’s state – however it should be mentioned that usage of this drug may cause a series of side effects such as palpitations, headache and diarrhea.

In certain cases of Intermittent Claudication, patients may undergo corrective surgery in order to alleviate their condition. Operations such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or bypass surgery are commonly available; however the full desirability of such methods has not yet been established. It is highly advised that you consult with your personal health care specialist prior to making any decision regarding such procedures. While they may yield significant improvement in the state of the affection and may relieve or completely cure the symptoms, there are also great risks involved with these procedures and the complications may be most severe. For more information regarding the available procedures, as well as recovery times and risks it is advised that you ask a specialized health care professional.