Which statement about intermittent claudication is correct?

Which statement about intermittent claudication is correct?

• A. It is due to reduced blood flow to the muscles
• B. It is caused by venous hypertension
• C. It is relieved by movement
• D. It is more common in the upper limbs

Answer: (A)

Intermittent claudication is caused by reduced blood flow to exercising leg muscles due to peripheral arterial disease, usually from atherosclerosis. As you walk, muscles demand more oxygen, but narrowed arteries can’t meet that demand, leading to ischemic pain, cramping, or fatigue that is reproducible with exertion and relieved by rest. This pattern distinguishes it from issues caused by venous hypertension, which produce edema and heaviness rather than exertional ischemic pain. It also predominantly affects the lower limbs, since PAD commonly involves leg arteries rather than the upper limbs. So, the statement that intermittent claudication is due to reduced blood flow to the muscles best captures the underlying mechanism.

Intermittent claudication is caused by reduced blood flow to exercising leg muscles due to peripheral arterial disease, usually from atherosclerosis. As you walk, muscles demand more oxygen, but narrowed arteries can’t meet that demand, leading to ischemic pain, cramping, or fatigue that is reproducible with exertion and relieved by rest. This pattern distinguishes it from issues caused by venous hypertension, which produce edema and heaviness rather than exertional ischemic pain. It also predominantly affects the lower limbs, since PAD commonly involves leg arteries rather than the upper limbs. So, the statement that intermittent claudication is due to reduced blood flow to the muscles best captures the underlying mechanism.