Drug May Reduce Leg Pain, Boost Walking

A common blood pressure medicine may also help people with leg pain from clogged arteries, a new study suggests. The study included 212 people with peripheral artery disease. People with this condition have plaque inside the arteries in the legs. This narrows the channel where blood flows. A common symptom is pain in the legs while walking. People were randomly assigned to receive either ramipril or a placebo (fake pills). Ramipril is a type of blood pressure medicine called an ACE inhibitor. These drugs lower blood pressure partly by making blood vessels wider. People were given a treadmill test at the start of the study. After taking ramipril for 6 months, people were able to walk more than 4 minutes longer. There was little change (about 21 seconds) for those taking the placebo.