Intermittent claudication
When I walk to the shops, I find I am getting a crampy pain in my calf. This has been getting worse over the past few months and now comes on after walking about 150 yards or so, but goes away when I stop for a rest. What is causing this?
You are almost certainly describing a symptom called intermittent claudication. This is caused by poor circulation in the arteries of your leg. It is brought on by arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, the same disease that causes heart attacks and strokes.
Reduced blood flow to the legs can cause pain usually in the calves but also in the buttocks and thighs.
The pain tends to be cramping in nature and comes on when the legs are active, such as when walking or running. The pain tends to resolve once the leg is rested.
Pain is caused by a lack of oxygen, which is carried by the blood to the leg muscles.
Other symptoms may include pain in the foot which is worse at night. Hair loss, shiny skin, nail changes and coldness of the feet can also occur.
Apart from this problem I am an otherwise healthy 68 year old. Have I developed this problem because of my age?
Peripheral vascular disease is more common in older people and the likelihood of it occurring increases with age.
Smoking is the commonest cause but the condition can also be brought on by high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. While vascular disease is more common as you get older, age on its own does not cause the problem. Certain drugs such as beta blockers can exacerbate the condition as can anaemia.
What can I do about it?
The most important thing is to change your lifestyle so that the blockage in your leg artery does not get worse.
If you smoke, you really should quit. If overweight, reduce your weight through a healthy diet and regular moderate exercise. You should consult your doctor to have the problem fully investigated.
This will include checking your cholesterol and having an ultrasound of the leg arteries performed to check where exactly the blockage is. Depending on the extent of the blockage, surgery may be recommended.