Legs are often an overlooked part of our daily lives, even though they support our bodies and allow us to walk, jump, and even dance to that heart-warming square dance.
However, when the legs begin to send out uncomfortable signals such as pain and swelling, many people often simply blame it on "aging" or "calcium deficiency", but they don't know that these symptoms may be the body's alarm. Did you know that the health of your legs is probably a barometer of your overall health.
1. Warning of leg pain: It's not just about calcium deficiency
"Ouch, my leg hurts when I move, maybe it's a calcium deficiency. Such words are often heard in the middle-aged and elderly groups. But in reality, the pain in the legs may be the alarm bells of the atherosclerosis of the lower extremities.
Atherosclerosis is a term that sounds a bit awkward, but it is actually the accumulation of too much fat, calcium, and other substances in the inner walls of the arteries, causing the blood vessels to narrow and block blood flow. This not only makes the legs feel painful, but also a precursor to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Degenerative arthritis is also a frequent source of leg pain. As we age, the articular cartilage wears out, the cushioning force between the joints decreases, and when I walk and go upstairs, I feel a pain, as if my legs are protesting against years of hard work.
The pain, especially at the beginning of the exercise, is like saying to you, "Wait, I'm not ready!"
2. The hidden connection between leg swelling and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health
If you notice that your legs are constantly swollen for no apparent reason, you should be careful. It's not just that you've been standing for a long time or walking too much, it's a sign that your heart isn't working hard.
The blood circulation in the legs is not smooth, and the blood flow back to the heart is blocked, and over time, the burden on the heart increases, and the risk of heart disease quietly increases.
Not only that, but edema in the legs can also be a sentinel to a myocardial infarction or stroke. Studies have shown that patients with atherosclerosis of the legs often have less calm cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, and there is a non-negligible relationship between the two.
Atherosclerosis in the legs, if left unchecked, may eventually spread to the heart and evolve into coronary artery disease, so this signal should never be treated as a trivial matter.
In this era where you can tell if you are in good health by looking at your legs, we can no longer turn a deaf ear to the protests of our legs. Pain and swelling, it may be that the body is telling you in its way: "I need more attention and care."
"Don't wait until you really fall ill to regret it, from now on, take care of your legs. After all, healthy legs can take you farther and jump more happily.
3. Varicose veins: the hidden meaning behind the itching and green tendons in the legs
Lumpy muscles on the legs are often considered to be an occupational disease caused by sitting for long periods of time, but there is often a problem of varicose veins hidden behind these symptoms.
Varicose veins are not simply a cosmetic problem, it is caused by the dysfunction of the venous valves of the lower limbs, and the blood return is not smooth, resulting in increased intravenous pressure, dilated veins, and varicose veins.
Long-term neglect can lead to skin pigmentation, eczema and even ulcers. According to the research report of the Chinese Journal of Circulation, the number of patients with varicose veins in mainland China is increasing year by year, and it has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored.
The formation of varicose veins is related to a variety of factors such as genetics, occupational habits, obesity, etc., and women are more susceptible to varicose veins than men.
Once symptoms such as leg swelling, pain, and night cramps appear, you should be alert to the possibility of varicose veins. Early adjuvant compression stockings, medications, or minimally invasive surgery can effectively alleviate symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening.
4. Nervous system alarm: numbness and pain in the legs
Numbness and tingling in the legs may be blamed by some people on "sitting improperly" or "standing for too long," but these symptoms can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to peripheral nerves, resulting in conduction abnormalities with symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.
Diabetes mellitus is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy, and according to the statistics of the Chinese Journal of Diabetes, about 50% of diabetic patients will have varying degrees of neuropathy during the course of the disease.
Numbness in the legs not only interferes with daily life, but can also indicate more serious health problems. A long-term hyperglycemic environment can damage the walls of blood vessels, affect blood circulation, and eventually lead to permanent damage to nerve tissue.
Therefore, once there is numbness in the legs, especially in diabetic patients, they should seek medical attention in time to prevent further deterioration of the condition through blood sugar control, physical therapy, medication, etc.
5. Leg fatigue and muscle weakness: potential metabolic problems
The legs are not only a tool for us to walk, but also a barometer of health. When you feel tired, weak, and struggling to recover even after not getting a lot of exercise, it may be a metabolic disease that is ringing the alarm bells.
Hypothyroidism is a classic metabolic problem that causes energy metabolism to slow down, causing generalized fatigue and weakness, and the legs are one of the first to feel this change.
In a study published in the International Journal of Endocrinology, more than half of patients with hypothyroidism reported symptoms of muscle weakness.
In addition, electrolyte imbalances can also cause weakness in the leg muscles. Electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium are important elements for maintaining nerve and muscle function.
Electrolyte imbalances, especially low levels of potassium, can directly affect the contractile function of muscles, leading to muscle weakness, which has been widely discussed in the Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
6. Cold legs and blood circulation: circulatory health that cannot be ignored
When your legs often feel cold, even in the summer, it can be a sign of poor blood circulation. The circulatory system is the body's heating system, which is responsible for transporting heat and nutrients to every corner of the body.
When there is a problem with circulation, the most distal part of the body, such as the legs, is the first to feel cold. Circulatory problems such as arteriosclerosis and peripheral artery disease can lead to a lack of blood supply to the legs, which can cause chills.
A study in the journal Circulation noted that patients with peripheral artery disease often experience cold legs at an early stage.
summary
The various symptoms of the legs are not trivial, and they can be an early sign of a more serious health problem. In the face of these signals, we should be vigilant and take timely action, rather than simply blaming fatigue or aging. Regular physical examinations, reasonable diet and exercise habits, and timely medical consultation are all important measures to maintain leg health.
We need to learn to listen to our bodies and prescribe the right medicine to ensure healthy legs that will lead us to a better life.