Our legs are incredibly powerful in ways most of us don’t think about. Sure, we use them to stand, walk, run, and jump, but our legs can also alert us to larger health issues that we may not be aware of, like cardiovascular disease. Eat this, not that! Salud spoke with experts who reveal signs to pay attention to in our legs and what they could indicate. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure signs you’ve already had COVID.
Dr. Wled Wazni, Director of Stroke at Glendale Memorial Hospital-Dignity Health explains: “Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or clots forming in the deep veins of your body, commonly affects the lower extremity. It’s a common disorder often seen in people in wheelchairs or who have underlying clotting problems.” of the blood.Signs and symptoms are usually affected in one leg and may include swelling of the foot, ankle, or the entire leg.In addition, cramping or pain may also occur more typically in the calf.The skin in the affected area it can be warm to the touch, and you can often have reddish skin over the affected area.”
Dr Jagdish KhubchandaniMBBS, Ph. D. New Mexico State University Professor of Public Health adds, “One of the most common vascular diseases is deep vein thrombosis that affects nearly one million Americans each year. It is essentially the result of a blood clot that develops in a deep vein. The lower legs or thighs are the most common locations (but can also occur in the pelvis, intestines, arms, etc.).”
Dr. Khubchandani explains, “Common symptoms are pain, warmth, skin discoloration, and swelling in the affected leg (usually not seen in both legs). DVT should be a concern, as blood clots could break off from blood vessels in the legs and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism) Pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening complication of DVT. The risk factors are well known and many are similar to risk factors for other heart diseases (eg, age, obesity, smoking, sedentary behaviors, family history, just to name a few).”
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According to Dr. Khubchandani, “Uncommon problems include pelvic swelling or pain that may be due to pelvic congestion syndrome , musculoskeletal problems, large cysts in the pelvic area, irritable bowel syndrome, tumors and cysts of the bladder or uterus, and gynecological problems. Sometimes, the obstruction of blood flow can lead to swelling and pain in the legs due to the accumulation of tissue fluids. The legs should also be examined and inspected in cases where pelvic pain or swelling may show signs unique to the legs (due to blood flow obstruction).”
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Another thing to take into account is claudication, which Medicine John Hopkins described as “pain in your thigh, calf, or buttocks that occurs when you walk. It can cause you to limp. It can be a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This happens when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. At first, claudication pain occurs when you walk a certain distance and goes away when you rest. But as the disease worsens, the pain may occur when you walk shorter distances. Over time, you may no longer be able to walk because the pain is very severe. Claudication is linked to health problems that also increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Therefore, you should be screened and possibly treated for arterial disease in other parts of the body.”
Dr Parham YasharMD FACS FAANS Board Certified Neurosurgeon in Dignity Health Northridge Hospital question: “Do you ever feel pain in your legs while walking? That’s an important question for patients with spinal disease, as pain with movement, such as walking, can be a potential sign of spinal stenosis as well as inadequate blood flow to the legs. This is a condition known as claudication and patients may experience vascular claudication or neurogenic claudication.”
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Dr. Khubchandani says, “Many of the diseases that should prompt a leg exam actually originate in or around the legs (eg, infections, inflammation, injuries, tumors, neuropathies, and vascular disease). many of these diseases They are accompanied by severe pain and swelling. Blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, or other diagnostic techniques are often warranted to confirm the diagnosis given the wide variety of lower extremity problems that leg exams initially elicit.”
Dr Michael Hirta Board Certified in Nutrition from Harvard University and Board Certified in Internal Medicine and is at the Center for Integrative Medicine in Tarzana California explains, “It’s not uncommon for a tight pair of socks to leave a slight impression on one’s legs. However, if the size of the leg above the sock impression is significantly larger than the size of the leg just below the sock impression, you may experience leg edema or swelling. Both your heart and kidneys are responsible for controlling fluid levels in your body, and when one or both are weak, fluid can pool in your legs than it should be. long periods of time can also cause or contribute to this visual effect.
