Experiencing aches and pains in one’s legs is not uncommon. There can be a variety of causes, from minor injury to serious health conditions. When that pain is recurring and persistent, finding its cause is paramount to securing your ongoing health. Claudication, or pain caused by poor blood circulation, is a common factor in a number of health conditions which should not be ignored. Doing so could be a fatal mistake. While not all leg pain in Miami Beach is caused by claudication, understanding who has the highest risks for developing this and more serious underlying issues is important to determining your next steps.
Who is At-Risk for Claudication?
Claudication can occur in anyone, but certain factors may increase one’s risk of developing the symptom of underlying disease. Such factors include:
Age: older adults are more susceptible to developing claudication and other causes of leg pain. Because aging changes the way our bodies heal and may reduce rigidity of the blood vessels, it is not uncommon for older adults to experience leg pain, numbness, and spider veins commonly found with circulatory issues.
Weight: those who are categorized as overweight or obese have increased risk of developing claudication and other circulatory issues. Artery blockages caused by fat and cholesterol deposits, known as arteriosclerosis, can lead to limb pain and increase risk for heart attack, stroke, and other health complications.
Occupation: jobs which require long periods of sitting or standing can affect one’s blood circulation, leading to numbness and pain in the legs and feet. Flight attendants especially should be careful, as the higher altitude can affect blood circulation. Other occupations which may have increased risk of claudication include retail workers, teachers, office workers, and manual laborers.
Pre-Existing Health Conditions: diabetes and other blood disorders can contribute to circulatory issues. Health conditions which increase risk of blood clotting, artery blockage, or healing issues may eventually lead to leg pain in Miami Beach. The most common co-occurring health condition is peripheral artery disease, which causes blood vessels to fail in returning blood back up the lower extremities into the heart.
How You Can Reduce Your Risks
Claudication, when detected early enough, may be easy to manage and reverse. Increasing one’s physical activity if you have a sedentary lifestyle, for instance, can drastically decrease your risks. Managing a healthy weight and balanced diet can prevent artery blockages that may pose serious health risks.
For people who are already experiencing symptoms of claudication such as leg pain in Miami Beach, the solution may require medical intervention. At Palm Vascular, our vascular specialists can help to identify the causes of your pain and find a solution. Through testing and imaging techniques like peripheral angiograms, we can pinpoint any potentially dangerous blockages or weak points in the circulatory system. If necessary, our team of expert surgeons can also conduct outpatient vascular surgery to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
