2023-08-08 10:14:04
You must have already seen it. After a long exposure or an afternoon shopping, you come home with heavy and sore legs. You feel like you’ve run a marathon when your pedometer painfully reads 6,000 steps. And if you’re a hairdresser, cashier or truck driver, this feeling is surely more than familiar to you. But do not panic. Simple gestures can relieve these pains.
The feeling of heaviness in the legs is explained by stagnation of blood in the veins linked to poor venous return to the heart. “When you walk, the muscle contracts and compresses the vein, which pushes the blood from the vein towards the heart, explains Jean-Dominique Allart, vascular doctor and vice-president of the French Society of Phlebology. When you’re static, the venous system doesn’t drain and that’s what hurts your legs. »
Avoid tight clothing
Venous insufficiency affects nearly half of women and a quarter of men, according to an Ifop study carried out in 2020. And contrary to popular belief, the elderly are not the only ones affected. 20% of 18-39 year olds suffer from heavy, swollen and/or painful legs. “The heaviness in the legs is not serious, wishes to reassure Jean-Charles Benzimra, phlebologist and angiologist from the outset. They often reflect an insufficiency of the superficial venous network, that is to say varicose veins” or “overweight and a sedentary lifestyle” adds Jean-Dominique Allart.
Many factors aggravate the phenomenon of heavy legs. First: the heat. Prolonged exposure to the sun is therefore to be avoided. Sauna and hammam aficionados will also have to take it easy this summer because “it relaxes the walls of the veins and leads to blood stagnation in the superficial venous system. » Hair removal with hot wax is also not recommended because it dilates the superficial veins.
In terms of attire, it is preferable to wear loose clothing rather than slim pants and other tight clothes. If it is not recommended to walk with wedges or stilettos, flat shoes are also to be avoided. “The ideal is to walk with a heel of about 2 to 4 centimeters”, explains Jean-Charles Benzimra. Position level, exit the legs crossed too long which “cut the venous system”.
Prioritize movement
Physical activity also has a role to play. “We must avoid prolonged standing and prolonged sitting,” warns the phlebologist. Not easy for certain professions, forced to trample all day. A few minutes of walking will already promote blood circulation. Taking a cold shower when returning home in the evening can be wise because it allows the veins to contract thanks to the effect of the cold. Less obvious to put in place if you sleep with two people (and you have a companion who is not very open to compromise): put wedges under the two lower legs of the bed to raise your legs.
“The use of compression stockings and tights as well as decongestant gels to massage the legs from bottom to top can also help,” adds the doctor. Consulting a professional, such as a physical therapist, to receive manual lymphatic drainage can be beneficial. For the most disabling cases, the doctor may prescribe venous tonic drugs.
A consultation in case of varicose veins
All these tips apply especially to people with functional venous insufficiency, that is to say not related to varicose vein problems. But if the vein becomes thick and branched in a star, you should not delay consulting a phlebologist, even if there is no pain. “If we don’t treat the varicose vein right away, it will necessarily deteriorate,” says Jean-Dominique Allart. The doctor will then choose between sclerosis of the diseased vein or thermal occlusion. Quick operations that are done under local anesthesia.
Be careful, however, not to minimize your symptoms. If only one leg is affected, it is swollen, hot and red and the pain becomes acute, it is advisable to consult a doctor without delay. It could be phlebitis.
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