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The Daily Insight

Which of the following conditions causes intermittent claudication?

Author

Emily Wong

Updated on April 30, 2026

Which of the following conditions causes intermittent claudication?

Peripheral artery disease is the primary cause of intermittent claudication. In this condition, plaque, consisting mainly of fat and cholesterol, adheres to the walls of arteries that deliver blood to the muscles of the lower limbs. The plaque blocks or restricts the flow of blood through the arteries to the muscles.

What are two risk factors for peripheral vascular?

PAD risk factors include:

  • Age over 50.
  • Smoking.
  • Diabetes.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Abdominal obesity.
  • Kidney disease (both a risk factor and a consequence of PAD)

What are the modifiable risk factors for peripheral vascular disease?

Modifiable risk factors that predispose to PAD include cigarette smoking (2,4,7,8), diabetes mellitus (2,4,7–9), hypertension (2,4,7,8,10,11), dyslipidemia (2,4,7–9,12–16), and hypothyroidism (17). Older persons with PAD should have their modifiable risk factors treated (4).

What is the main cause of peripheral artery disease?

Peripheral artery disease is often caused by atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis, fatty deposits build up on your artery walls and reduce blood flow. Although discussions of atherosclerosis usually focus on the heart, the disease can and usually does affect arteries throughout your body.

Is intermittent claudication serious?

It’s also known as intermittent claudication. It’s is a sign of atherosclerosis, which means plaque has built up in the arteries in your legs and is causing blockages. This makes it harder for blood to get through. It can be a serious health risk.

Is claudication intermittent?

Most often this pain occurs in the legs after walking at a certain pace and for a certain amount of time — depending on the severity of the condition. The condition is also called intermittent claudication because the pain usually isn’t constant. It begins during exercise and ends with rest.

What are the 6 P’s of peripheral vascular disease?

The six Ps (pain, pallor, poikilothermia, pulselessness, paresthesia, paralysis) are the classic presentation of acute arterial occlusion in patients without underlying occlusive vascular disease.

Which factors contribute to a risk for amputation in a client with peripheral vascular disease Select all that apply?

If severe enough, blocked blood flow can cause tissue death and can sometimes lead to amputation of the foot or leg. The main risk factor for PAD is smoking. Other risk factors include older age and diseases like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

What is the strongest risk factor for peripheral arterial disease?

The main risk factor for PAD is smoking. Other risk factors include older age and diseases like diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Which patient is most at risk for peripheral vascular disease?

Who is at risk for peripheral vascular disease?

  • Age (especially older than age 50)
  • History of heart disease.
  • Male gender.
  • Postmenopausal women.
  • Family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or peripheral vascular disease.

What is life expectancy with peripheral artery disease?

Only half of all patients remained alive at the end of follow-up. The crude five-year death rate among patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease was 33.2% – a rate of 82.4 deaths per 1,000 patient years (Figure 1).

What is the most common location for peripheral artery disease?

It is primarily caused by the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is called atherosclerosis. PAD can happen in any blood vessel, but it is more common in the legs than the arms.

Is claudication life threatening?

Although claudication is neither life- nor limb-threatening, it has a significant negative impact on quality of life, as measured by these instruments. Patients so afflicted report more bodily pain, worse physical function, and worse perceived health, in addition to limited walking ability.

Is it sciatica or intermittent claudication?

Intermittent claudication is a symptom and is by definition diagnosed by a patient reporting a history of leg pain with walking relieved by rest. However, as other conditions such as sciatica can mimic intermittent claudication, testing is often performed to confirm the diagnosis of peripheral artery disease .

What are the causes of intermittent explosive disorder?

Environment. Most people with this disorder grew up in families where explosive behavior and verbal and physical abuse were common.

  • Genetics. There may be a genetic component,causing the disorder to be passed down from parents to children.
  • Differences in how the brain works.
  • What causes intermittent muscle pain?

    Intermittent claudication, or pain and cramping in the lower leg is caused by inadequate blood flow to the leg muscles. This lack of blood flow causes a decrease in oxygen delivered to the muscles of the legs. Claudication is generally felt when walking and decreases with rest.