General practitioner Oksana Drapkina: existing atherosclerosis can affect how a person walks or runs.
Atherosclerosis is a vascular disease in which plaques appear in them – fatty deposits consisting mainly of cholesterol. A person with atherosclerosis may not have any symptoms for decades, until the vessel in which the plaque began to grow narrows or becomes blocked so much that a heart attack or stroke occurs, Doctor Peter reported.
But the body can also give signals that atherosclerotic plaques are forming in its vessels. For example, such a signal can be xanthomas – yellowish fatty lumps on the eyelids. In addition, atherosclerosis can be recognized by pain in the legs and by such a problem as intermittent claudication, said doctor Oksana Drapkina.
Professor Drapkina noted that cholesterol deposits often form in the arteries of the legs. When they grow and become large enough to interfere with the flow of blood, a person begins to feel discomfort and pain while walking or running. As a result, he begins to walk or run with periodic stops, which he is forced to make so that the pain that arises in the legs subsides.
“Intermittent claudication – severe pain in the calf muscles that appears after physical exertion and decreases after rest – is a common sign of atherosclerotic lesions of the leg arteries,” Oksana Drapkina stated.
The doctor advised to definitely contact specialists and examine the leg vessels if such a problem arises. Untreated atherosclerosis can cause myocardial infarction or stroke.
Earlier, the MedikForum.ru portal wrote about what other symptoms atherosclerosis can manifest.
Important! The information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
Oksana Drapkina Health Chief specialist in therapy and general medical practice of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor