Figure PAD risk relative to never smokers (Criqui et al. Circulation. 2021 144(9))
Devin Zarkowsky MDSpecial to Valley NewsClaudication: Vascular Leg PainClaudication is pain, cramping, or heaviness in the legs during physical activity, particularly walking up one of the many hills we have here locally. The leg muscles demand more blood flow than the arteries can provide, causing discomfort. This condition is also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), which occurs when arteries become blocked, typically due to atherosclerosis. Symptoms usually improve with rest, allowing those affected to continue their journey, but recur with further effort.Claudication PathophysiologyClaudication arises when the demand for oxygen by the leg muscles exceeds the supply delivered by the blood vessels. As physical activity increases, the oxygen requirement escalates
