Blockage of Leg Arteries
Alternate Names : Arterial Insufficiency of the Legs, Calf Pain with Exercise, Intermittent Claudication, Recurrent Leg Cramping, Recurrent Leg Pain, Vaso-Occlusive Disease of the Legs
Common Causes
This condition is due to narrowing or blockage of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis obliterans - peripheral vascular disease). Blockage of arteries can occur anywhere in the body. If they occur in the heart, a person may experience angina or even a heart attack. If they occur in the neck or the brain, a person may have a stroke.
Intermittent claudication is when the blockage occurs in the legs, most commonly in the calf or the foot. It occurs only at certain times, such as after a period of walking and is relieved by rest.
Atherosclerosis, or blockage of arteries, can occur for many reasons such as smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
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