Old Zhang is 67 years old, his legs have always been good, they love a walk and bike to the market. However, in the past six months, walking on the way, often feel sore calves, rest for a period of time, feel no pain, continue to walk, after a period of time, the legs began to hurt again, after this symptom has been present. Old Zhang’s heart can be twisted, the heart always wondered what happened to the leg. Some of his old friends told him that it’s not a problem, people always have trouble with their legs as they get older. But the old Zhang is still not sure, the hospital turned a few departments, finally the vascular doctor for his diagnosis, it turns out that the old Zhang has lower limb arteriosclerosis occlusive disease, mainly manifested as intermittent claudication, fortunately he saw in time, otherwise it is likely to lead to amputation. The old Zhang thought, this can make more elderly people should pay attention to it, do not miss their health. But he was confused, how did he get this disease all of a sudden when he was fine before? I’ll answer the old man’s questions. The actual fact is that there are two kinds of intermittent claudication, vascular intermittent claudication and neurological intermittent claudication. The often said intermittent claudication is mainly vascular, mainly caused by lower limb atherosclerosis, both men and women can develop. The early stage of lower extremity atherosclerosis is generally not visible as a symptom, only occasionally some numbness, coldness or feeling of swelling in the legs. Some elderly people will feel sore and swollen after walking for about 1 km to 2 km, just like the feeling of ordinary people after they are tired of running. After resting for a while, they can continue walking again, but after walking almost the same distance they will feel sore again. Generally this symptom will not change much in a relatively long period of time, and the old man himself will not care, but with the extension of time, this time may be six months or one year, his limp distance will shorten, and this shortening is related to the condition of vascular lesions, if the blood vessel has partial sclerosis, the narrowing is relatively light, the limp distance may be relatively long; if the narrowing is relatively heavy, then the limp distance It may be 500 meters, 200 meters, or even 100 meters. The reason why vascular sclerosis affects walking is because movement requires oxygen, and oxygen needs to be transported by blood, and blood vessels are narrowed, blood cannot be transported, oxygen supply is not available, and the calf is ischemic, so naturally there will be soreness and pain; after resting, the blood supply is sufficient, and no pain will be felt. The main causes of vascular intermittent claudication are vasculitis, atherosclerosis-occlusive disease, aortitis, and diabetic lower limb ischemia. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people over the age of 50 who have diabetes or high blood lipids and who smoke should pay special attention to lower extremity atherosclerosis. Often, many elderly people suffer from cerebral infarction, their legs are not sharp, and intermittent claudication is not obvious, so it is often overlooked. There are also elderly people who are afraid of cold, and when their legs and feet feel cold and chilly, they don’t care. Intermittent claudication is a modern civilization disease that is caused by living and eating habits. The narrowing or even occlusion of blood vessels developed by atherosclerosis is a long-term cumulative process. Therefore, in daily life, middle-aged and elderly people should pay attention to physical and mental relaxation, reasonable diet, and control blood lipids and blood pressure. Director Zhang emphasized especially to quit smoking, because the effect of smoke on blood vessels is particularly obvious, after smoking will make the blood vessels contract, causing damage to the intima, leading to the continued formation of thrombosis and sclerotic plaque. Life is about exercise. Intermittent claudication symptoms of the less severe elderly, on the one hand, take drugs to control, on the other hand, you can do appropriate activities, but to the extent possible, if you feel sore or swollen to pay attention to rest. The elderly with heavy symptoms and painful legs can do some appropriate bed exercises, for example, lying flat on the bed and lifting and lowering their legs according to a certain pattern. Patients with more severe disease may require vascular bypass or stent treatment. It is worth mentioning that the elderly with diabetes and diagnosed lower limb ischemia winter foot soak, the water temperature should not be too high. First, this kind of elderly nerve sensory paralysis, less sensitive to temperature, water temperature is too high easily cause burns; second, if the water temperature is too high, will make the local metabolism accelerated, blood supply is not enough, often leading to ischemia, but will aggravate the disease. If the elderly feel cold and need insulation, you can adjust the room temperature, wear loose and thick cotton shoes, cover the quilt should also be warm and soft, not pressed to the legs and feet.