Leg pain: INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION
Severe leg pain and cramps induced by walking are symptoms of intermittent claudication. A lack of oxygen due to inadequate blood flow causes the pain.
Atherosclerosis is responsible for most intermittent claudication; it is also common in diabetic patients. Adopting a very-low-fat diet and an exercise program (for example, the regimen developed by cardiologist Dean Ornish) has helped many patients. Including onions and garlic in the diet is said to improve blood flow. Patients with severe blockages, however, may require surgery to remove them.
