The menopause does not only manifest itself through hot flashes, joint pain and the appearance of wrinkles on the face… The veins also start to suffer and are at the origin of this all too famous heavy legs effect…
In France, one in three adults suffers from venous insufficiency. The famous heavy legs effect is most often declined in women even if, contrary to popular belief, it also affects men.
They are indeed 26% to complain of disorders of the venous circulation in the legs, compared to 57% of women. In all, some 18 million people suffer from it.
What exactly is the heavy legs effect?
The heavy legs effect is often manifested by unpleasant tingling sensations and numbness in the legs. These manifestations are all the more intense the hotter it is. Small blue veins may then appear under the skin.
This feeling of heavy legs is not without foundation. Medicine speaks, to designate this set of symptoms, ofvenous insufficiency.
Venous disease or venous insufficiency is characterized by an alteration of the valveskinds of small valves which normally prevent the blood from going back down in the legs.
When these valves are no longer tight, the blood flows back down and especially into the small veins, we then speak of venous stasis. This blood stagnation leads to an overall weakening of the walls of the veins.
The “heavy legs” have nothing dangerous in themselves, even if they are very unpleasant. However, when venous insufficiency is allowed to set in, it can end up degenerating. The venous walls, subjected to an unusual pressure, are damaged.
Often, varicose veins may appear, or even, in the long term, varicose ulcers or a risk of phlebitis. That’s why it’s better to quickly find countermeasures that will make your life easier and prevent these complications. Fortunately, natural solutions exist…
Among the main aggravating factors of venous insufficiency are the prolonged static positionheat overweight, heredity and hormones.
Are postmenopausal women at risk?
If the menopause does not really aggravate the problems of heavy legs, sedentary lifestyle, age-related weight gain and above all hormone can cause more pronounced symptoms for the women concerned.
When we get old, the veins gradually lose their elasticity and no longer contract as easily. However, the veins contain in their walls muscle cells which must contract to bring the blood up from the legs to the heart.
When these walls are less tonics, the blood has difficulty in rising and it tends to stagnate in the lower limbs. This heavy legs effect may be one of the first signs of veno-lymphatic insufficiency which affects those who remain seated most of the day.
Also, the progesterone, usually secreted in the second part of the cycle, indeed facilitates the reabsorption of liquids by the kidneys. Its declining production, Water retention sets in, causing swelling of the lower limbs. But beware, no need to try to stop drinking, it would only promote dehydration.
Excess weight is an aggravating factor venous insufficiency during menopause. The extra pounds exert pressure on the lower limbs (always a matter of gravity!) which hinders venous return. Not to mention that being overweight is often associated with circulatory problems of metabolic origin (in particular hypercholesterolemia) which aggravate the risks.
The red vine against the heavy legs effect
It’s the good old vine, the one that is grown to make wine. Towards the end of summer, the leaves turn red. They then contain many antioxidants (in particular flavonoids) and substances which reduce the permeability of the venous walls. This plant also exerts a toning effect on the venous system in its entirety.
To prepare your tisane, count 1 tablespoon of dried leaves for a bowl of boiling water. Leave to infuse long enough (about 10 min) so that the tannins have time to diffuse into the water. They are the ones who act in priority on your symptoms.
You can also refresh your infusion then soak compresses that you will put on your painful legs at the end of the day.
Everything else is a matter of personal hygiene. It is in our daily habits that we will draw the main solutionsthanks to a few simple readjustments.
We will add some circulatory plants to target the heavy legs effect and some essential oils which relieve. Finally, a few corrections to our eating behavior can do us the greatest good in the long term…
