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Intermittent Claudication
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When taking a walk leaves you in pain, a hardening of the leg arteries may be the reason. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- 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
Avoid foods high in meat fat, dairy fat, and trans fat that raise the risk of changes in the arteries that lead to intermittent claudication
Also indexed as:
- intermittent claudication
About this treatment
About This Condition
Intermittent claudication is pain in the legs caused by atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) of the lower extremities.
Because atherosclerosis decreases the supply of blood and oxygen to the legs, people with intermittent claudication experience leg pain after walking a certain distance. People with this condition should be monitored by a doctor. The natural treatments for intermittent claudication include many of those used for atherosclerosis; these include controlling high cholesterol, modifying dietary and lifestyle factors that might influence atherosclerosis, and taking various nutritional supplements and herbs.
You should also learn more about atherosclerosis for more information about dietary changes that might favorably influence hardening of the arteries or the risk of heart disease associated with it. What follows is a discussion limited to those aspects of lifestyle and natural medicine that have been studied specifically in relation to intermittent claudication.
Symptoms
Initial symptoms of intermittent claudication are pain, aching, cramping, or fatigue of the muscles in the lower limbs that develop during walking and are quickly relieved by rest. Symptoms typically occur in the calf but may also be located in the foot, thigh, hip, or buttocks. In more advanced stages, the painful symptoms are present even at rest and are worsened by elevating the legs.
Last Review: 05-11-2011
Copyright © 2011 Aisle7. All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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