Pain and heaviness in the legs are familiar to many people. More than 1/3 of the world's population complains of “humming”, “aching” legs, and constant fatigue in the knees and feet. The cause of such symptoms can be either physical overexertion or serious illness. Pain can appear at any time and can be of varying types. People often ask the question of how to get rid of heaviness in their legs and arms. In order to eliminate the problem, it is necessary to undergo examination by a specialist and prepare for a course of treatment.
The main reason leading to the occurrence of such a symptom as heaviness in the legs is static loads. Those at risk are those who spend a lot of time on their feet or constantly sit in one place (this is fraught with venous stagnation).
As a rule, women more often complain of pain in the lower extremities than men. This is due to sexual predisposition to the disease. Hormonal levels, menstrual cycles, pregnancy and childbirth - all this contributes to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. In addition, fatigue in the legs can be caused by wearing high-platform shoes for a long time, since in this case the foot experiences constant overload.
Insufficient protein intake in the body leads to leg disease, the limb swells, the skin surface peels and turns red. To eliminate the problem, you should diversify your diet by adding turkey, peanuts, tuna, and beans.
Excess weight also causes heaviness in the legs. The greater the body weight, the greater the load on the heart and lower limbs. Venous stagnation occurs, and the amount of interstitial fluid increases. The appearance of painful symptoms is also influenced by the use of certain medications and hormonal contraceptives.
Swelling appears more often in summer than in winter. This is due to the fact that in the heat a person consumes a large amount of fluid, and it remains in the limbs. This does not pose any danger, and over time the body’s condition returns to normal. Heaviness in the legs in the morning can be a big threat, especially if the pain appears every day after sleep. In order to reduce pain, you should take a comfortable position on the sofa and do a massage.
Sometimes pain in the legs occurs not only due to excessive stress, but also due to the development of the disease. Most often, the appearance of heaviness in the legs when walking and sitting is associated with the development of the following diseases:
Thrombophlebitis is a common and dangerous disease. This is an inflammation of the venous walls, which leads to the formation of blood clots. A characteristic feature of thrombophlebitis is that signs of the disease appear only when inflammation covers a large area. At the initial stage, many patients do not even suspect that they are developing the disease. Often the clot breaks off and travels through the vascular system along with the blood. The most dangerous thing that can happen in this case is that a blood clot gets into the blood vessels of the lungs. This process will lead to blockage of the artery of the respiratory system and can cause instant death. As a rule, fatigue and heaviness in the calves, a burning sensation and aching pain, swelling of the legs and redness of the skin are the first signs of the development of thrombophlebitis.
In the early stages, the disease is treatable, but in its advanced form, treatment becomes very difficult.
Vascular atherosclerosis is characterized by the fact that the process of blocking blood vessels with plaques or blood clots occurs, as a result of which blood stops flowing to the lower extremities of the body. With this disease, partial or complete blockage of the vessels that deliver blood occurs. The disease often has the following symptoms: discomfort in the legs and calves, decreased tone and pain both when walking and in a sitting or lying position. In later stages, ulcers may appear on the skin and gangrene develops. The main reasons for the development of vascular atherosclerosis are smoking, taking drugs, and leading an unhealthy lifestyle.
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic problem, because it can develop into a pathology. The heart is responsible for the proper functioning of the vascular system, which supplies blood to the artery, and from there it goes to the human organs. The valves regulate the direction of blood flow and prevent backflow. If the valve does not work at the right time, blood will flow into the legs. After some time, the venous pool will become stretched, pressure will increase, and varicose veins will begin to develop. A neglected process leads to complications. Ulcers and bumps may appear on the skin, and unbearable pain will be felt in the arms and legs. If varicose veins are not treated, it will soon lead to chronic venous insufficiency.
The spine is the support for the entire body. Often osteochondrosis is the cause of discomfort in the extremities. The arms and legs may become very swollen, and sometimes tingling and even cramping may occur. If, after a long walk or working in one position, your limbs begin to cramp, your legs go numb, and your hands twitch, then these are the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. In order to understand where in the spine there is a disorder and spasm, you should undergo magnetic resonance imaging. A feeling of weakness in the lower extremities of the body usually occurs when the cartilage plate that feeds the intervertebral disc is eroded. This is especially evident when walking, when heaviness in the legs gradually develops into severe pain. Sometimes you can eliminate problems with the spine and straighten your posture with the help of special exercises and massage procedures. But only the attending physician can prescribe exercise therapy or massage. Self-medication is strictly forbidden, as this can lead to injury.
How to relieve burning pain and swelling at home? Effective folk methods will help you independently relieve heaviness in your legs below the knee and reduce pain. When the first symptoms appear, you should take a warm shower and soak your feet in a sea salt bath solution.
Bath with medicinal herbs.
You need to take a mixture of chamomile, linden blossom, and calendula. 2 tbsp. The collection should be poured with boiling water and left to brew for 10 minutes. After this, add 1 liter of warm water and 3 tbsp to the liquid. honey You should keep your feet in the bath for about 15 minutes, then wipe them dry without rinsing with running water.
Bath based on curd whey.
It is recommended to use homemade cottage cheese and whey, which can be obtained from milk. Place 200 g of cottage cheese in a saucepan, add whey and water. Boil over medium heat for 15 minutes. Then wait until the product cools down and pour it into a basin. During the procedure, you should massage your heels, knees, and arms. The healing decoction can be reused, but before doing so it is necessary to boil it again.
A decoction of string and mint.
A bath with an infusion of these herbs will restore blood circulation, improve skin condition, and remove dryness. The raw material should be infused in 1 liter of boiling water for about 15 minutes, then poured into a basin, and the legs should be kept for 10 minutes. You can also take a fragrant bath with a decoction of chamomile, string and mint leaves. It will relieve fatigue and charge the body with vigor and energy.
Wrap with salt and olive oil.
To relieve aching pain in the lower extremities, you need to make a special solution based on sea salt and olive oil. Place 3 tbsp in a cup. sea salt (it can be replaced with table salt), pour olive oil to the top. The solution must be left for several hours, then it can be used. Rub the product into the skin using circular movements, then cover your feet with a towel.
Olive oil is an excellent product that will not only moisturize the skin, but also work from the inside. The diseased joint will no longer cause discomfort, and soon the inflammation will gradually subside.
It is worth remembering that treatment with folk remedies may not be as effective if the patient does not know what disease caused the illness. After visiting a doctor, you should independently select the optimal folk recipes and begin treatment.
What should you do to avoid discomfort and protect yourself from diseases? First of all, you need to seriously take care of preserving and maintaining health. If you adhere to the following recommendations, the risk of developing varicose veins and thrombophlebitis will be low:
Leading a healthy lifestyle is easy, the main thing is to set a goal and go towards it. It should be remembered that any discomfort may be a sign of the development of a dangerous disease. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier it will be to defeat it. But for this you need to know about the first signs of heaviness in the legs, causes and treatment.