What Causes Intermittent Claudication?

Blockage of an artery in the legs may cause intermittent claudication. Atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque, which is a deposit of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin in the inner lining of an artery) is the most common cause of blockage of arteries.

Blockages in the leg are most common in the thigh and behind the knee but may also occur at other sites in the body including the aorta, groin, or abdomen. A person may have more than one blockage.

What are the risk factors for intermittent claudication?

As stated above, atherosclerosis is the most common cause of arterial blockage which can cause intermittent claudication. Risk factors for intermittent claudication are the same as those for atherosclerosis, and may include:

• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Overweight or obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Family history of atherosclerosis or intermittent claudication
• Older age (55 for men, 60 for women)

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases have different risk factors.

Although these risk factors increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors. Knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.