Intermittent Claudication, IC
IC is the term used to describe a set of symptoms commonly, but not exclusively, associated with compromised blood supply. It typically presents as calf pain brought on by exercise and relieved by rest, but any muscle group can be affected and it can affect arms and legs. It usually develops with increasing age, and is particularly associated with a history of, or current, smoking. There are rarer forms of vessel disease that can cause IC by narrowing of the arteries in younger, non-smokers. The symptoms can be associated with joint, muscle and nerve conditions too. An evaluation by a doctor will be able to establish whether the cause is likely to be the blood vessels, and whether further treatment is necessary.
IC is usually the first indication to people that there is some significant blood vessel disease, and is a reflection of overall poor health of the blood vessels. The good news is that it is frequently an early warning sign and, with healthy lifestyle changes, both the symptoms of Intermittant Claudication and the associated risks of other blood vessel disease (heart attack and stroke, for example) can be improved without any other specific treatment.
Adoption of a healthy lifestyle, also known as "Best Medical Therapy", usually involves the COMPLETE CESSATION of smoking, regular walking exercise, a daily aspirin, medical control of blood cholesterol, blood pressure control, and close control of diabetes if it is present. About 2 out of 3 patients that successfully adopt healthy lifestyle changes have resolution of symptoms and require no further treatment.
Patients are usually referred to the vascular department by their GP and seen in our Nurse Led Claudication Clinic in the first instance. Baseline assessment of blood vessel function is taken and advice given on how the symptoms can be relieved with Best Medical Therapy. The Specialist Nurse will be able to establish whether further treatment might be necessary, and if further expert assessment is required from one of the Specialist Vascular Surgeons.
Occasionally, for the small minority of patients for whom there is symptomatic deterioration with Best Medical Therapy or it is either ineffective or only achieves a small improvement, further evaluation, investigation and treatment is required. There are rare but significant risks involved with treatment so this is only undertaken for Intermittent Claudication once a period of Best Medical Therapy has been carried out. Treatment for IC can be through angioplasty or surgery.
IC is the term used to describe a set of symptoms commonly, but not exclusively, associated with compromised blood supply. It typically presents as calf pain brought on by exercise and relieved by rest, but any muscle group can be affected and it can affect arms and legs. It usually develops with increasing age, and is particularly associated with a history of, or current, smoking. There are rarer forms of vessel disease that can cause IC by narrowing of the arteries in younger, non-smokers. The symptoms can be associated with joint, muscle and nerve conditions too. An evaluation by a doctor will be able to establish whether the cause is likely to be the blood vessels, and whether further treatment is necessary.
IC is usually the first indication to people that there is some significant blood vessel disease, and is a reflection of overall poor health of the blood vessels. The good news is that it is frequently an early warning sign and, with healthy lifestyle changes, both the symptoms of Intermittant Claudication and the associated risks of other blood vessel disease (heart attack and stroke, for example) can be improved without any other specific treatment.
Adoption of a healthy lifestyle, also known as "Best Medical Therapy", usually involves the COMPLETE CESSATION of smoking, regular walking exercise, a daily aspirin, medical control of blood cholesterol, blood pressure control, and close control of diabetes if it is present. About 2 out of 3 patients that successfully adopt healthy lifestyle changes have resolution of symptoms and require no further treatment.
Patients are usually referred to the vascular department by their GP and seen in our Nurse Led Claudication Clinic in the first instance. Baseline assessment of blood vessel function is taken and advice given on how the symptoms can be relieved with Best Medical Therapy. The Specialist Nurse will be able to establish whether further treatment might be necessary, and if further expert assessment is required from one of the Specialist Vascular Surgeons.
Occasionally, for the small minority of patients for whom there is symptomatic deterioration with Best Medical Therapy or it is either ineffective or only achieves a small improvement, further evaluation, investigation and treatment is required. There are rare but significant risks involved with treatment so this is only undertaken for Intermittent Claudication once a period of Best Medical Therapy has been carried out. Treatment for IC can be through angioplasty or surgery.
