2 Oct 2024
If you are wondering, “Why do my legs feel heavy, stiff, or tired?” It might be a sign of a condition affecting the blood vessels. It can also be because of restless legs syndrome, overtraining, or other reasons. Identifying the cause of heavy legs will help you find a proper treatment. There might also be some useful home remedies to alleviate the pain and relieve the symptoms.
The causes of why leg weaknesses can differ in severity. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen make a full diagnosis to be sure they are treating the symptoms accurately. Read on to explore more about why this happens, and remedies that might help.
Heavy legs can signal multiple disorders or conditions in the body, such as:
Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged, and twisted veins just beneath the skin. They can look larger and more apparent than surrounding veins. As the circulation worsens, blood begins to pool in the legs because of factors such as gravity and the loss of elasticity of the veins. It can cause your legs to feel tired and heavy. Varicose veins can occur for a bunch of reasons, such as:
Varicose veins might lead to issues including pooling of blood, which in turn results in swollen and heavy legs. They might also result in skin sores, which could be difficult to heal. If a person experiences bleeding from varicose veins, they are required to seek immediate medical help, as it can be a medical emergency.
Overtraining can result in leg weakness. An individual might feel a bit of tiredness in their legs for a couple of days after an intense workout. However, when athletes train regularly to push way past their limits, they risk overtraining their muscles. Overtrained muscles do not have time to mend themselves before using them again. The result is mostly sluggish, heavy, or weak muscles.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) results in an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. They might move in a shaky or jittery movement. Until the legs move, an individual might feel a pulling sensation. A lot of people feel heaviness in their legs. Other symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome include:
Restless Leg Syndrome is known to worsen at night. The exact reason is not clear; however, some researchers suggest it is related to dopamine. It is a neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement.
Heavy legs might also indicate chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The pressure of gravity makes the heart work harder to pump blood back to the heart from the legs and feet. The legs and feet have a number of one-way valves designed to keep blood from falling back down. The valves and veins of a person dealing with CVI become weak. It can result in symptoms such as swelling, weakness in legs, and spider veins. CVI is more common in people who stand for longer periods of time. This is because standing can put a lot of strain on the veins in the feet and lower legs. Other factors that elevate the chances of CVI are:
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a sort of cardiovascular condition that impacts the arteries and veins. Symptoms begin to appear when fat starts to accumulate in the walls of the arteries. This makes it difficult for the blood to pass through. PAD is common in the legs, where it can cut off circulation to some degree to the legs and feet. Risk factors for PAD include:
Lipedema is a condition that refers to an irregular buildup of fat. Typically, it affects the legs, but it might also affect the arms. It often results in legs feel heavy, painful, or tender. The exact root cause of this condition is not yet clear. However, it is crucial to note that it does not occur due to overweight.
Lymphedema is a chronic condition where the buildup of lymph fluid results in swelling. It mostly influences the arms and legs and causes them to feel heavy. Primary lymphedema can develop because of mutations in the genes that serve in the development of the lymphatic system. On the other side, secondary lymphedema develops due to:
If you are wondering, “Why my legs feel heavy?” it might also be because of pregnancy. It is common for legs to feel this way, particularly during late pregnancy. This is mostly due to edema, which is swelling because of the accumulation of fluid in the body’s tissues.
We advise you to visit authentic healthcare experts, such as Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen to treat these conditions. You can also experiment with home remedies to help relieve the symptoms.
Medical treatments might be essential depending on the root cause of your leg pain. An individual’s doctor can help them reach a correct diagnosis and suggest them a suitable treatment plan. However, some home remedies also help manage these symptoms. These remedies include:
Elevating your legs while sitting can help. When you elevate your legs, your body does not have to work as much to pump the blood and other fluids out of the legs. Using a stool or a reclining chair to elevate the legs and feet to just above the heart level might help refresh the blood in the legs. As a result, it alleviate some of the pressure the legs feel.
Steer clear of standing or sitting for too long in the same position. It can worsen the symptoms. Shifting positions can greatly help to promote blood circulation.
A doctor might recommend you wear stockings or compression socks to help promote blood flow in the legs. This might particularly be helpful for individuals who must stand or sit at work for longer periods.
Controlling salt intake can also reduce the discomfort and signs due to swelling. Checking nutrition labels and contacting a registered dietician can help anyone monitor their salt intake.
Another factor that negatively affects the overall circulation in the body and induces symptoms such as heavy legs. If your legs feel weak, you must stop or reduce smoking to help prevent or reduce some of these symptoms.
Obesity and overweight are risk factors for a bunch of conditions that might cause your legs to feel heavy and tired. Maintaining a moderate weight is the key to reducing the chances of developing such conditions and related symptoms.
Getting sufficient regular exercise or physical activity might help reduce or manage the risk of heavy legs. Moderate to mild exercises, such as brisk walking, can help keep the blood pumping through the body. It also improves other risk factors, including high blood pressure. While exercises are great for the mind as well as the body, overdoing them can be harmful. To prevent overexertion, people must take rest and breaks from vigorous exercise as required.
If you are concerned about “Why do my legs feel weak all the time?” then it is vital for you to seek medical advice. Moreover, if the heaviness in your legs is accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling, pain, or something else, take it as your sign to consult a doctor. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen take pleasure in relieving the pain in their patients. They will inquire about specific symptoms and might order tests to reach an ideal diagnosis and suggest a suitable treatment plan.
In a lot of cases, taking time to rest and look after yourself would be enough to regain energy in your legs. We put a lot of pressure on our legs. They do require a bit of special treatment every now and then to shoo away the stiffness and heaviness. However, if you consistently experience a feeling of pain or tiredness in your legs or you notice unexplained swelling or pain, then you must consult a doctor. Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen offers the ultimate solution to all your leg issues.
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