Excessive smoking can lead to smoker’s leg. In this circulatory disease, blood vessels narrow and restrict blood flow to the lower limbs. In people with smoker’s leg, blood flow reduction may cause leg pain or cramps when walking. The treatment options for smoker’s leg may include lifestyle changes, prescription medications, and, in severe cases, surgery. In this article, we discuss the causes of smoker’s leg. We also look at how to treat and prevent the condition. Smoker’s leg refers to symptoms in the leg resulting from a condition that doctors call peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD causes narrowing of the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow to the arteries in the leg. It can also affect blood flow to the:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 6.5 million people in the United States aged 40 years and above have PAD. PAD is more common in African Americans than in people belonging to other racial groups. PAD is most often due to atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which restricts blood flow outside the heart. When a person develops smoker’s leg, they are likely to experience pain in the legs when walking. This symptom occurs due to insufficient blood in the limbs. The most common cause of PAD is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when fatty deposits build up inside the arteries, restricting blood flow to other parts of the body. Blood clots may also form on the artery walls, decreasing the size of these blood vessels and sometimes blocking them. Although doctors often consider atherosclerosis to be a heart-related issue, symptoms can occur throughout the body, including in the legs. Other factors that may increase the chances of developing smoker’s leg include:
Many people with smoker’s leg experience no signs or symptoms. However, some people may have leg pain when walking, which the medical community refers to as claudication. The severity of claudication ranges from mild to severe. The most common symptom of PAD is muscle pain or cramping when walking, especially in the:
Walking may trigger the symptoms, which usually disappear a few minutes after resting. Other symptoms may include:
The treatment for smoker’s leg typically involves lifestyle changes and medications. These treatments help manage symptoms and stop the aggravation of atherosclerosis. Lifestyle changesPeople can adopt certain measures to help reduce the symptoms of smoker’s leg. These include:
MedicationA doctor may prescribe medications to reduce pain and other symptoms of smoker’s leg, including:
Angioplasty and vascular surgeryIf routine changes and medications do not work, a doctor may recommend angioplasty, stenting, or vascular bypass surgery. Angioplasty involves inflating a balloon across the narrowing to increase the size of the diseased artery. In doing this, it helps increase blood flow throughout the body. Stenting involves placing a hollow metal tube into the affected artery and deploying it across the narrowing to unblock the artery. Vascular bypass surgery involves reconnecting blood vessels to redirect blood flow from one area to another. Surgeons use this technique to allow blood to pass around a blockage. A person can help reduce the risk of developing smoker’s leg by:
Lifestyle changes and medications often help treat and prevent smoker’s leg. However, some symptoms may require immediate medical intervention. A person should see a doctor immediately if they have:
Smoker’s leg is the term for PAD that affects the lower limbs, causing leg pain and cramping. The condition results from the buildup of plaque in the arteries and, in rare cases, the development of blood clots. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, reaching or maintaining a moderate weight, and eating a balanced diet, may help prevent smoker’s leg. However, if a person has difficulty walking or their legs become pale or discolored with no pulse, they should seek immediate medical attention. |