What are the symptoms of heavy legs?

What are the symptoms of heavy legs?
Heavy and swollen legs are usually a sign of edema. The medical term "edema" defines the infiltration of tissue by a liquid. Weight gain is the first symptom of edema. The legs are swollen, especially at night. The person can feel his "heavy" legs and have difficulty wearing shoes because of her ankles and feet swollen. If one leg is reached, a localized problem veins (phlebitis) should be considered. In this case, the edema is accompanied by pain located deep and a feeling of warmth in the leg level.

What causes edema of the legs?
In most cases, the swollen leg problems are due to the fact that the leg veins do not efficiently return blood to the heart. This is called venous insufficiency (or venous disease).

Nevertheless it is important to verify that the edema is not bound to high venous pressure problems, causing a leak in the tissues (phlebitis or venous thrombosis, heart problems, for example) or to imbalances between water present in the blood and in tissues (for example, in some kidney diseases).

What are the possible complications of leg edema?
Edema can impede walking significantly, especially in the elderly with mobility already reduced. When edema is due to poor venous Course (varicose veins), skin may become more fragile, infections or skin ulcers may occur.

How to react in case of heavy legs?
Avoid prolonged standing, trampling, sources of heat by the ground and the elastic tight sock.
Elevate the foot of your bed to encourage the return leg of the blood to the heart during the night.
During the day, wear elastic stockings or tights. They compress the members and promote the return of venous blood.

When to see a doctor in case of heavy legs?
Call your doctor immediately or go to the nearest emergency department if edema is very new and comes with:
abnormal shortness of breath on exertion;
or difficulty breathing permanent;
or sudden pain in the chest or side of the chest;
or dizziness;
or ringing in the ears;
or bloated and hard stomach.

Consult a doctor in the day :
if edema appeared suddenly.
if edema is painful leg with a hot and red locally.
If edema is on one side or substantially from one side predominates.
if edema is accompanied by fever.

Consult a doctor in the coming days :
if the skin is red and shows signs of infection.
if there is a skin ulcer in a person who has poor venous ground.
if the person takes a drug that can cause edema as an adverse event (high blood pressure medicines, for example).

How to prevent swelling of the legs?
Regularly practice walking, swimming, gymnastics to maintain good blood circulation.
Pay attention to drugs that can cause edema. However, never stop a prescribed treatment without talking to your doctor. He alone will determine if the drug you take actually causes edema your problems and how you can stop it or replace it if it is.

How to treat venous insufficiency?
Against venous insufficiency - and once other causes have been eliminated - the reference treatment is wearing elastic stockings contention adapted. Ask your doctor.

The medicines called vasculoprotectors and veinotonic , like some plant extracts, designed to relieve symptoms (heavy legs, restlessness) caused by poor blood circulation, but they have no effect on the progression of the disease. The legs can also be massaged with gels or creams containing vasculoprotective substances.
Finally, there are herbal remedies used to promote renal excretion of water (known medications with aquaretic ). Their interest is not shown.