What symptoms do narrowing of the leg arteries produce?
When muscles are used they need an increased flow of blood and oxygen to do the extra work. When there is a narrowing of the artery the supply cannot keep up with the demand. The worse the narrowing or blockage and the harder the muscles work the sooner the muscles run short of oxygen. For example the muscles will run out of oxygen more quickly when someone tries to walk quickly up a hill than when they walk slowly down one. When the muscle runs out of oxygen it cramps up aches and eventually the person has to stop. The commonest place to be affected is the calf muscle but it can also occur in the thigh or buttock. When people stop walking pain rapidly wears off (in a few minutes). The medical term for this is intermittent claudication. This is rather like angina only affecting the leg muscle rather than the heart. Rarely the blockages get so bad that pain comes on even at rest. This is a sign of serious disease but luckily it is rare. For most people the problem will be a nuisance whi
