Sudden changes in your health can be terrifying, especially as we get older. Mobility issues, memory loss, and sudden, persistent pains can all be causes for concern that should be addressed as early as possible. Claudication in Miami, for example, is common among older adults, but may be a symptom of deeper, more serious issues. Here’s what you need to know:
What is Claudication?
Claudication is the medical term given to leg and limb pain caused by poor blood circulation. It most commonly occurs in the legs and lower extremities, but may also affect the arms and hands. In most cases, claudication occurs intermittently, during or soon after physical activity or exercise. As the condition progresses, it may also become evident even when resting, especially if one is sitting or lying down for long periods of time.
Symptoms of claudication include:
- Pain or discomfort in the feet, calves, thighs, hips, or buttocks
- Cold, numb feet or hands
- Cuts and sores which take longer than expected to heal
- Discoloration and waxiness to the skin on affected limbs
- Limb weakness
Most Common Causes of Claudication in Miami
As previously noted, claudication in Miami is more often a symptom than a disease in and of itself. Caused by poor blood circulation, these leg and limb pain issues can indicate more serious health conditions, such as:
- Peripheral Vascular Disease, a condition in which the blood vessels in the extremities are weakened and unable to facilitate proper circulation. The weakened vessels allow blood to pool in the legs and feet and causing pain.
- Spinal Stenosis, compression of the small spinal canal, causing the nerves housed within to become pinched, causing pain. Spinal stenosis can also cause numbness, weakness, and cramping.
- Atherosclerosis, or the build-up of fat and cholesterol in the arteries, causing blockages and poor blood circulation. The narrowed blood vessels can cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure, or, if a blockage becomes lodged within the heart or lungs, a life-threatening medical emergency.
- Other Musculoskeletal Diseases, which may affect circulation as a result of injury or progressive disease.
Who Does Claudication Affect?
Claudication can affect anyone, but certain risk factors may increase one’s risks of developing it. Such factors include:
- Advanced Age: aging blood vessels may weaken, causing issues with circulation that may contribute to claudication symptoms.
- Sedentary Lifestyle: working in an office environment or other factors which may reduce one’s daily activity. Teachers, legal professionals, and corporate employees are among those with higher risk for health complications due to inactivity.
- Pre-Existing Health Conditions: if you have a pre-existing condition which may affect blood circulation, such as diabetes, developing claudication in Miami is a serious threat.
Treatment Options
Thankfully, treating claudication and its underlying causes can reverse its effect and improve one’s quality of life. In some cases, simple lifestyle changes can bring relief. For other patients, medication management is effective. Intervention through outpatient vascular surgery in Miami Beach may also be a viable solution for cases in which artery blockages or weakness pose serious health threats.
