what is an intermittent claudication? when does it occur?

Answer 1

Cerebro, the cigarette in your avatar is one of the major cause of intermittent claudication, in Raynaud's disease. Previously Angina pectoris was nick named as claudication of heart, due to decreased supply of blood to heart.
This Article will help you out:
Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomenon are rare disorders that affect blood vessels. These disorders are marked by brief episodes of vasospasm (narrowing of the blood vessels). Vasospasm causes decreased blood flow to the fingers and toes, and rarely to the nose, ears, nipples, and lips. The fingers are the most commonly affected area, but the toes also are affected in 40 percent of people with Raynaud's.

When this disorder occurs without any known cause, it is called Raynaud's disease, or primary Raynaud's. When the condition occurs along with a likely cause, it is known as Raynaud's phenomenon, or secondary Raynaud's. Primary Raynaud's is more common and tends to be less severe than secondary Raynaud's.

When you have primary or secondary Raynaud's, cold temperatures or stressful emotions can trigger attacks. During these attacks, there is a brief lack of blood flow to the affected body part(s), and the skin can temporarily become white then bluish. As blood flow returns to the area, the skin turns red. The affected areas can throb or feel numb and tingly. With severe Raynaud's, prolonged or repeated episodes can cause sores or tissue death (gangrene).

It is normal for the body to keep its vital inner organs warm by limiting blood flow to the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The body naturally does this in response to a long period of cold. This response can cause frostbite. In people with Raynaud's, the response to cold is quicker and stronger. The response can be triggered by mild or short-lived changes in temperature, such as:

* Taking something out of the freezer
* Temperatures that dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit

In people with Raynaud's, blood flow is more strongly reduced in response to cold temperatures than in people without the disorder. When Raynaud's is severe (which is uncommon), exposure to cold for as little as 20 minutes can cause major tissue damage.

The blood vessels of people with Raynaud's also physically overreact to stressful emotions. It is normal during times of psychological stress for the body to release hormones that narrow its blood vessels. But for people with Raynaud's, this squeezing of blood vessels is stronger. This results in less blood reaching fingers, toes, and sometimes other extremities.

Outlook

For most people, primary Raynaud's is more of a bother than a serious illness and it can usually be managed with minor lifestyle changes. Secondary Raynaud's can be more difficult to manage, but several treatments may help prevent or relieve symptoms. Among the most important treatments for secondary Raynaud's is treating of the underlying condition.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_claudication

Intermittent claudication is a cramping sensation in the legs that is present during exercise or walking and occurs as a result of decreased oxygen supply. This cramping usually occurs in the calf, but may also occur in the feet. When intermittent claudication is discussed it is measured by the number of "blocks" (e.g. 1 or 2 blocks) one can walk comfortably. It often indicates severe atherosclerosis. One of the hallmarks of this clinical entity is that it occurs intermittently. It disappears after a brief rest and the patient can start walking again until the pain recurs.

Intermittent claudication in and of itself is often a symptom of severe atherosclerotic disease of the peripheral vascular system. Claudication derives from the Latin verb claudicare, "to limp."

Answer 3

Most of the answers are pretty good. I'm not sure why the "doctor' was connecting claudication and Raynaud's. They are totally different conditions. The majority of Raynaud's patients I've seen are under 50, many under 40. Some smoke, most don't. Smoker's can develop another problems, called Buerger's disease that affects the small vessels of the fingers and toes.

Claudication is a symptom of narrowing in the arteries in the legs, from the iliacs, down to the tibials. The risk factors for PAD (peripheral arterial disease) is the same as for heart disease : genetics, smoking, diet, diabetes, etc.

In general, patients with claudication will say that their pain is very predictable. "Every time I walk to the mailbox..."

The easiest way to diagnose PAD is with a noninvasive test called Ankle-brachial indices (and pulse volume recordings).

Answer 4

Intermittent claudication is a condition caused by ischemia of the muscles; characterized by attacks of lameness and pain, brought on by walking, chiefly in the calf muscles; however, the condition may occur in other muscle groups.

It usually occurs while walking, a sensation of cramping in the legs, numbness. The ischemia is the loss of blood flow to the extremity(ies).

Answer 5

Intermittant claudication is when the vessels in your legs don't let enough blood in to oxygentate the muscles during exercise. Your leg muscles become starved for oxygen which causes pain.
When you stop the exercise ( walking , doing the shopping etc) gradually the muscles exchange oxygen back to normal levels and the pain stops.

As I said , it occurs during exercise, and the worse the condition the less exercise that it takes to cause it.

Answer 6

Intermittent claudication is pain in both calves when you walk due to narrowing of the femoral artery. In most cases (providing you follow the correct management) the symptoms should remain stable or get better. The main risk with peripheral arterial disease is the increased risk of heat attack and stroke. The things you can do to help are; if you smoke, stop. Try and remain as close to your ideal weight as possible, take regular exercise, limit alcohol intake and eat a well balanced diet. The other risks are leg ulcerations which have resulted from injures, this can happen due to the limited blood supply to your legs. Never wear tight shoes or stocking/socks. Drug therapy includes statins, aspirin and drugs like cilostazol which open up the artery. See your Dr if you develop leg pains, leg or foot injuries and any change to the colour and temperature of your feet and/or legs.

Answer 7

The earliest and most common symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is intermittent claudication, a tightness or squeezing pain in the calf, thigh, or buttock during exertion, such as walking. The pain is usually triggered after the same amount of exercise and is relieved by rest.

The main cause is a narrowing in one of the main arteries, most commonly the femoral artery in the thigh, or sometimes the iliac artery in the lower abdomen. There are several medical causes for the narrowing but by far the most common is a condition called atherosclerosis. This means a thickening of the lining of the artery with a disease process which eventually narrows the artery more and more until in some cases it blocks completely. Atherosclerosis happens for a number of reasons some of which are smoking, genetic, and diet related. This is the same condition that also occurs elsewhere in the body, in other arteries such as the coronary arteries in the heart. There is therefore a similarity between claudication and angina pains in the chest caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries. Indeed, many patients with one condition also suffer the other.

However, not everyone has this symptom. Current research shows that only a third of people with PAD have intermittent claudication. Some of these people do not have leg pain simply because they do not walk far enough to bring intermittent claudication on. Other research indicates that women with PAD are less likely than men to have intermittent claudication.

Other symptoms of peripheral arterial disease of the legs may include:

Decreased leg strength and function and poor balance.
Cold and numb feet or toes.
Sores that are slow to heal.
Foot pain at rest, which indicates that PAD is getting worse.
Erectile dysfunction.
Physical signs of advanced peripheral arterial disease of the legs may appear, such as:

Feet and toes that become pale from exercise or when elevated.
Loss of hair on the feet and toes.
Feet that turn red when dangled.
Blue or purple marks on the legs, feet, or toes caused by reduced oxygen flow to the tissues.
Ulcers on the feet or toes.
Gangrene infection (death of tissue), indicated by black skin on the legs or feet.
More severe symptoms may indicate advanced PAD. However, symptoms can be affected by or confused with other health conditions the person also has, such as arthritis.

Peripheral arterial disease also can be confused with other conditions with similar symptoms.

Symptoms of leg pain associated with PAD may be mentioned less often by people who have a high pain tolerance, by people with conditions like diabetes who have numbness in their legs that prevents them from sensing pain, or by people who never exert themselves long enough for leg pain to come on. These factors may keep peripheral arterial disease from being diagnosed.

Click these links if you would like more info:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4692
http://www.gvg.org.uk/claudinf.html
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/Peripheral-Arterial-Disease-of-the-Legs-Symptoms
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3020252
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/claudication/HQ01238