How To Treat Claudication Pain

Claudication pain gradually resolves after several minutes of rest. Claudication pain is never normal and should always be evaluated by a doctor. Typically claudication pain and peripheral arterial disease occur in middle aged adults. As blockages in the leg blood vessels slowly worsen leg muscles downstream from the blockages fail to receive adequate amounts of blood and oxygen from the heart; the result is claudication pain. How can you best treat claudication pain?

To treat claudication pain stop smoking now! Smokers have a ten times greater risk for developing claudication pain than non-smokers.

To treat claudication pain make sure that your blood pressure and blood sugars are under optimum control.

To treat claudication pain get your cholesterol profile as ideal as possible. This means getting "bad LDL cholesterol" below 100 mg/dl and raising "good HDL cholesterol" as high as possible. This will likely require taking special cholesterol medications called statins.

To treat claudication pain begin a regular exercise program and stay with it. This can be as simple as walking for 30 minutes every day. Not only will exercise help you lose to weight but it can actually help to improve blood flow into your lower legs thereby reducing claudication pain.

To treat claudication pain begin taking an anti-platelet medication such as aspirin or Plavix. These medications reduce the blood's ability to clot and may slow the progression of claudication pain and peripheral arterial disease. Another medication called Pletal is also used to treat claudication pain and peripheral arterial disease. Pletal works by increasing blood flow into the legs as well as decreasing the stickiness of platelets. Ask your doctor if these choices are right for you.

*  If you experience leg pain and fatigue with physical exertion schedule an appointment with your doctor to make sure you don't have claudication pain and peripheral arterial disease.
*  Angioplasty or surgery is sometimes necessary when claudication pain or peripheral arterial disease is severe.

*  Individuals with claudication pain and peripheral arterial disease are at very high risk for strokes and heart attacks.