Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy, and How Can I Get This Cured?

Have you ever experienced your legs feeling heavier than usual? It is often a common problem, and you might be having several questions regarding this problem. In this article, you will find the answers to some common questions related to heavy legs. 

Why Do My Legs Feel Heavy?

The main cause of heaviness in legs is generally poor blood circulation. Blood circulation problems generally occur in the lower part of your body, especially your legs. This is because the lower section of your body needs to fight against gravity to transfer the blood back up to your heart.  Thus, if your circulation is weak, then blood may end up pooling in your legs, feet, and ankles, resulting in heaviness in your leg.

What Are The Causes Of Heavy Legs?

Due to venous insufficiency, you go through the feeling of having heavy legs. This happens because your veins are damaged and fail to circulate the blood back up to your heart, resulting in the sensation of heavy legs. The heavy feeling is due to the surplus blood in your legs, unable to flow properly, resulting in your leg swelling and causing heaviness.

If not treated, it can lead to varicose veins or even other vein diseases. Some common causes of vein problems include a sedentary lifestyle, hormones, obesity, genes, age, vitamin deficiencies, and lack of physical activity. However, despite the onset of the condition, treatment options are available for varicose and spider veins.

Read to know: Which Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Heavy Legs

What Are The Common Symptoms Of Heavy Legs?

Heavy legs can feel achy, tired, painful, and quite stiff. Your legs might appear swollen as a result of circulatory problems. Varicose veins may make your legs seem bumpy. Circulation problems in the legs can also cause sores that are slow to heal and give them a pale or bluish appearance on the skin.

How Do You Treat Vein Issues?

Safe and quick treatment options:

• Sclerotherapy

  This is used to treat small and medium leg vein issues, especially spider and varicose veins. In this process, your doctor injects the damaged vein with a liquid to close the vein. 

• Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)

  This is used to treat large vein disease and large varicose veins on your legs. These veins are detected through an ultrasound because they are not visible on the surface. The doctor inserts a small catheter into the diseased vein and uses laser lights to produce heat, which then collapses the vein.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

  This is also used to treat large vein disease and large varicose veins on your legs, usually visible only through ultrasound. The doctor inserts a small catheter into the diseased vein, and heat is delivered to collapse the vein.

• VenaSeal

  Another term for this is endovenous adhesive ablation. The doctor performs the procedure by using a small catheter to place a medical adhesive into your damaged vein to close that vein. This is done to redirect blood to healthy veins. 

• Phlebectomy

  This is best known for removing varicose veins near the surface of your skin. The doctor makes several small punctures in your skin in order to remove the damaged vein. This procedure or approach does not need any stitches and is generally performed with ELVA or RFA.

How To Get Relief At Home

There are certain things you can do to relieve the pain you might be experiencing due to heavy legs:

• Losing weight can help since obesity can lead to varicose veins and diabetes, which causes a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries, resulting in blood flow blockage.
• Quit smoking. 
• Take proper rest days between intense exercise sessions.
• Elevating your legs about 6 to 12 inches above your heart level or massaging your legs would help the blood that is pooled up in your legs to circulate properly and drain out to the rest of your body. 
• Wear compression stockings to promote blood flow.
• Be physically active to lower cholesterol and improve circulation. 

You can contact our expert vein doctors at North Atlanta Vascular and Vein Center if your legs feel heavy or if you are facing symptoms of heavy legs. We offer the most effective heavy-leg treatment in Suwanee, GA.