Member: Lately when I go on my walks, I feel a cramping pain in my calves. It eventually goes away if I sit and take a break. Should I be concerned?
—Julia, White Bear Lake
Dr. Fendrich: Thank you for the question, Julia. First off, I encourage you to make an appointment with your doctor to go over your symptoms as I don’t want you to take my comments as a diagnosis. That said, what you’re describing could fit a common disease that many older adults face, called peripheral artery disease (PAD).
When you have PAD, your legs and/or arms do not receive enough blood flow due to narrow, blocked arteries. Because you are not receiving enough blood flow to keep up with demand, you may experience symptoms such as pain in your legs while walking. That pain is called claudication.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to prevent PAD and reduce symptoms if you have it, starting with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That includes quitting smoking, keeping your blood sugar levels in check if you have diabetes, exercising regularly, eating healthy and maintaining low cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Sometimes it is necessary to have a procedure to open up a blocked blood vessel.
The severity of claudication can vary from mild discomfort to severe pain. Extreme claudication may prevent you from doing normal physical activities, such as walking. That is why it’s important to speak to your doctor if you are experiencing leg pain, numbness or any other symptoms.