Claudication is caused by plaque build up in blood vessels

Claudication occurs in leg, hip or buttock muscles and results from a reduced blood flow to the muscles. Sufferers usually feel mild to severe pain in their low extremity muscles while exercising. The pain usually goes away once the person rests. Claudication is a result of peripheral vascular disease which is the narrowing of blood vessels due to plaque build up. Pain occurs when these blood vessels spasm. Risk factors for claudication include smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension. The condition is diagnosed by measuring the blood pressure in the legs before and after exercise or by magnetic resonance angiography which checks arterial plaque deposits. The condition is treated by reducing the risk factors eg stopping smoking, managing diabetes. Exercise is also beneficial. Drug therapy using anti-platelet agents (blood thinning), aspirin, dipyridamole, clopidogrel, cilostaxol or pentoxifylline may also be utilized. If a patient suffers pain even while at rest, surgery may be required - balloon or stent insertion or blockage bypass.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Sun Herald

Related Disease Topics:

• Claudication
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Arterial plaque deposit
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Blood pressure

Related Symptom Topics:

• Pain in lower extremities while exercising
• Pain in lower extremities
• Pain
• Mild pain
• Severe pain
• Narrowing of blood vessels

Article Source Details

About: Claudication is caused by plaque build up in blood vessels

Date: 2 December 2004

Source: Sun Herald

Author: Dr Sangani

URL: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/living/health/10317256.htm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Cause of claudication
• Cause of peripheral vascular disease
• Surgery and claudication
• Medication
• Surgery
• Medication and claudication
• Medication and peripheral vascular disease
• Medication and arterial plaque deposit
• Surgery and peripheral vascular disease
• Surgery and arterial plaque deposit
• Diagnosis of claudicaiton
• Diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease
• Diagnosis of arterial plaque
• Diagnosis of pain in lower extremities
• Diagnosis of pain
• Diagnosis of mild pain
• Diagnosis of severe pain
• Diagnosis of narrowing of blood vessels

More News Topics

Search Specialists by State and City