Having heavy legs is not inevitable.
Fortunately, there are preventative solutions for not having to deal with poor traffic.
- To escape the heat
"Any source of heat dilates the veins and disrupts blood flow," says Dr. Didier Rastel, an angiologist, "which is why heavy legs are more common in summer."
We avoid exposure to the sun. For the toilet, we favor the showers in the baths and we finish with a jet of cold water up from the ankles to the thighs. Of course, depilations with hot wax are to be banned.
- Avoid prolonged standing
The saleswomen and the hairdressers know it well: to stay up all day long at the venous return. In this case it is better not to remain static.
It takes at least fifteen steps every hour, "the minimum to start the pump at the level of the legs," says Dr. Luc Bodin.
If this is not possible, one goes up on tiptoe several times in order to contract the muscles of the calves. Or we perform forward / backward balance movements by moving the weight of the body from the heels to the toes.
- Choosing the right shoes
The golden rule: a comfortable model that does not compress the foot or ankle.
We are wary of the Spartan-style straps that cut off traffic. And we forget the wedge sandals that prevent the smooth running of the foot. Similarly, high heels are to be avoided. They amplify the lumbar arch, resulting in a possible compression of the vena cava.
The ideal is a heel of 3-4 cm high.
- Dare compression stockings
"They avoid worsening pain and the progression of venous disease," says Dr. Rastel "Wearing them in the summer is not always easy, but in case of mild disorders, they can be put in just 2 hours at night. facilitate drainage. "
Woven so as to exert a degressive pressure from the ankle to the top of the leg, they really relieve. Those of class 1 are not used for much. At least one class 2 bottom must be chosen.
Several brands (Sigvaris, Veinostim ...) now offer very feminine fine models.
- Review your diet
Beware of salt that promotes edema.
"For light legs, we must gorge ourselves with proteins , fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and antioxidants to strengthen the vein walls," says dietitian Thérèse Ferrari.
We particularly force foods rich in vitamin E (dried fruit, avocado , wheat germ) and zinc (oyster, fish, egg yolk).
- Banking on the veinotonic
Their effectiveness is no longer to prove. You can buy them without a prescription but it is better to talk to your doctor all the same.
Mainly herbal, they stimulate the muscle fibers and oppose the dilation of the veins. In case of lymphatic problems, one opts for the red vine and the sweetclover. And for fragile veins, prefer the Hamamelis duo and red vine.
