Circulatory problems in the legs: Up to eight million Germans suffer from intermittent claudication
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The disease affects many without knowing it – a circulatory disorder in the legs. However, some people first think of the pain as a magnesium deficiency. Experts are now warning of the dangers if the true cause remains unrecognized for a long time. What signs you should take seriously.
The pain shoots spasmodically into the legs. Those affected must stop. That’s why the condition is also called “shop window disease”. Because it forces you to take a break, so to speak, and the path only continues in short stages – like from shop window to shop window.
A third of people over 40 in Germany have circulatory problems (including due to calcified vessels, also known as arteriosclerosis). The circulatory disorder in the legs is called “peripheral arterial disease,” or PAOD for short.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when a large artery supplying the arm or leg closes suddenly. If an artery distant from the heart (peripheral) in the arms or legs is affected, it is referred to as acute peripheral arterial occlusive disease. (Source: Internists on the Internet)
PAD can lead to the described cramp-like pain in the legs during physical exertion. Those affected feel it in the calf, foot, thighs or buttocks. These complaints can therefore be the first signs.
Many suffer from peripheral artery disease without knowing it
However, those affected often think of other causes first. The German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine (DGG) is currently pointing out that many people misinterpret this warning signal and first consult an orthopedist.
Because In Germany, up to eight million people currently suffer from peripheral arterial disease . “Many people don’t know about it,” emphasizes Markus Steinbauer, chief physician in the clinic for vascular surgery at the Barmwärme Brüder Hospital in Regensburg, in a press release. “PAOD is a slowly developing disease that often causes hardly any symptoms for decades.”
If the disease is very advanced – with pain that occurs even when resting or wounds that do not heal – complex vascular procedures or operations are necessary, including amputation. “That’s why it’s so important to improve the early detection of PAD,” explains the DGG President.
Symptoms: These are the early warning signals of PAKV
The most common early warning sign of the onset of PAD is muscle pain that occurs repeatedly in the calves, thighs or buttocks during long runs or while climbing stairs. “Affected people often think of a magnesium deficiency or a bone misalignment and go to an orthopedic surgeon,” reports Konstantinos Stavroulakis, vascular surgeon at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhadern campus. “But that’s often the wrong path.”
Other signs of PAD include:
Numbness and weakness in the legs Cold, pale feet and toes Cool, pale and marbled-looking skin Dry skin of the legs and feet Leg hair is lost Unusually slow growing toenails Severe calluses on the soles of the feet Poor healing wounds or pain when walking in the calf, thigh or buttocks Pain Erectile dysfunction in legs and feet at rest
Also read: Erectile dysfunction is a warning signal – cardiologist: “Little things often reduce the risk of heart attack by 90 percent”
Amputation threatens: circulatory problems in the legs
The DGG explains in detail how the disease can develop on its website. The fact that there is a risk of amputation of the affected leg illustrates how crucial early detection is.
In the early stages, stage I, The narrowing (stenosis) in the vessel is so small that it does not cause any symptoms. The disease is then usually discovered accidentally (e.g. during a vascular examination).
Im Stadium II As a result of the disease, the patient feels stress-related pain after a more or less long walk, often in the calf (less often in the thigh, hip/buttocks area or foot).
Im Stadium III blood circulation continues to deteriorate. The pain occurs even in retirement, especially when the legs lie flat (nocturnal or constant pain at rest).
Im Stadium IV The circulatory disorder leads to dead tissue, usually on the toes, ankles or heel. Small wounds no longer heal, but instead become larger and larger.
From stages III and IV onwards there is an immediate risk of amputation. Amputation is often the last resort.
Diagnosis of “intermittent window disease”
In addition to the symptoms that can be observed, vascular specialists use the following diagnostic methods, for example:
Electrocardiogram (EKG) .
More on the subject of heart and circulation
Therapy of peripheral arterial occlusive disease
There are now many ways to treat narrowed and blocked arteries. “In many cases, narrowing of the vessels can now be treated using gentle, so-called endovascular procedures,” explain the vascular experts. Vascular expansion using balloons (PTA) or stents is now the first treatment option in many cases.
The affected vessels in the legs are usually easy to reach. Local anesthesia is usually sufficient for these procedures.
However, sometimes operations are necessary. Here, for example, vessels are exposed, lime is peeled out or bypasses are created (bypassing the diseased vessels using a natural or artificial blood conductor).
In addition, medications can help with circulatory disorders, such as:
Preparations that inhibit blood clotting (so-called platelet function inhibitors such as ASA) Preparations to lower blood lipids
This can prevent circulatory problems
Circulatory disorders are caused and worsened by risk factors – but can just as easily be influenced positively. To do the blood vessels good, you should pay attention to the following:
Blood pressure: You should counteract high blood pressure. This is a very common cause of arteriosclerosis (deposits) and heart disease. Ideal value: under 140 (systolic) and under 90 (diastolic).
Diabetes : Elevated blood sugar levels and the metabolic changes associated with diabetes cause long-term damage to blood vessels. Ideal values: fasting blood sugar below 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/l). Fasting values between 100 and 125 mg/dl indicate prediabetes, a precursor to diabetes.
Nicotine: Smoking causes massive damage to the blood vessels. The toxins attack the endothelium, the inner layer of the vessels. This in turn promotes arteriosclerosis. This can lead to narrowed blood vessels or blockages – as well as rising blood pressure. Ideal value: zero cigarettes.
Nutrition: For a heart-healthy diet, the menu should include lots of vegetables and fruit, as well as fiber-rich whole grain products and fish.
Movement: “It’s not even about a demanding sports program,” encourages Heribert Brück, cardiologist and spokesman for the Federal Association of Resident Cardiologists. Just start by adding more exercise into your everyday life. Everyone knows enough examples: stairs instead of elevators, taking the bike instead of the car more often, going for a walk before sitting on the couch in the evening.
keko/with press information