Leg circulation problems
Minor leg circulation problems if ignored or left untreated can be responsible for the cause of many more serious conditions, some of which include:
> POOR CIRCULATION – not only a problem as we grow older, but the underlying cause of many aches and pains in young adults too. Affecting millions of people across the globe, it is the underlying cause of many minor and serious medical conditions such as heart failure, stroke, limb loss and in extreme cases fatality. Although some causes of poor circulation are hormonal or hereditary, for many, poor diet, illness and an unhealthy lifestyle are responsible, and as modern living increasingly involves less activity, keeping your legs active is crucial to circulatory fitness.
Our muscles need a constant supply of fresh oxygen and nutrients, which are provided through healthy blood flow and generated through activity. For those who are unable to exercise or don’t have the motivation, an alternative method of stimulating circulation can be a fantastic substitute to ensure general well-being.
Signs to look for:
Numbness in legs & feet
Leg & Foot cramps
Pain in the legs
Swelling in legs & ankles
Aching & tiredness in legs
Cold fingers & toes
> LYMPH OEDEMA (localised swelling) – most commonly affects the lower limbs. It is an excessive accumulation of fluids caused by inefficient lymph drainage (removal of toxins) which develops as a result of ill health, diet or infection. It can affect people of all ages and although it isn’t life threatening, it can cause extreme discomfort and restrict movement and mobility.
If symptoms are untreated, bacteria can build up in the affected tissues, which may lead to more serious problems, such as cellulitis, which can be severely painful and dramatically
impede motion.
Compression massage and pneumatic pump therapy are recognized treatments, stimulating blood flow and promoting mobility of lymph fluids.
Signs to look for:
Inflammation or swelling
Restricted movement in the joints
Tired, aching legs
Discolouration of the skin
> DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) – the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein and most commonly affects the legs. A DVT can partially or completely block the width of your vein, inhibiting blood flow through the blood vessel. It can sometimes occur without warning or symptoms but can be onset due to decreased blood flow, disease and damage to blood vessels caused by trauma. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, long haul flights and immobility.
DVT is a life threatening condition and contributes to more deaths in the UK than Breast Cancer, Aids, & road traffic accidents combined.
DVT can often be prevented by adopting pro-active blood flow management.
Signs to look for:
Tenderness & pain in the legs
Localised swelling
Leg cramps
Reddening & warming of the skin
Engorged superficial veins
> RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME (RLS) affects around 3% of the UK population and sufferers usually experience symptoms late in the evening before bed. It can be triggered by lack of activity and long periods sitting down, and the sufferer usually feels uncomfortable pain or a combination of itchiness, numbness, twitching, tugging and tingling, and an overwhelming, uncontrollable urge to move the legs. It can become progressively worse throughout the night, and many people experience regular disruption to sleep.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) can be extremely frustrating, and the elderly or infirm, who are less active or mobile, are particularly at risk of developing RLS. Improving circulation and stimulating blood flow is a good way of protecting against RLS.
Signs to look for:
Burning, itching or tickling within the muscle.
Tingling or prickling (like pins and needles)
Urges to shake or stretch the legs repeatedly
General discomfort or unusual sensations in the legs
> LEG CRAMPS can affect people in different ways – the discomfort may be a sharp pain, a dull ache, a feeling of temporary spasm or a burning sensation deep in the muscle, and is usually accompanied by tenderness which will feel sore to the touch and may suddenly become more acute when you move. It can be brought on by: dehydration, poor circulation and clogging of the arteries due to high levels of cholesterol. Injury, trauma, infection and nerve damage may also contribute to sudden cramps and aches as well as particular medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and sciatica.
Repeated or prolonged episodes of cramp or leg pain can significantly affect your quality of life and every day activities such as exercise, walking and even sleep could prove difficult. If you ignore the symptoms, it could seriously disrupt your normal routine.
To ensure you reduce the risk of developing leg cramps, positive blood circulation and healthy muscle tone is vital.
Signs to look for:
Tightness or tenderness in the calves
Sharp shooting pains through the leg muscles
Leg cramps
Stiffness and spasm
Interrupted mobility
> LACTIC ACID: the foremost cause for lactic acid build up in muscle is rigorous exercise or over exertion and is generally formed during anaerobic workout, or through extended periods of aerobic training, when muscles are being worked to such an intensity that the demand for oxygen eventually cannot be met. It can be extremely painful and last several hours or even days after physical activity.
Extreme cases of lactic acid build up can be debilitating, however, maintaining good circulation with massage can quickly ease the discomfort and relax the stiffness.
Signs to look for:
Severe burning in the muscles
Tightness or stiffness in the muscles
Sharp pain in the muscle
Inflammation of the muscles
> LEG ULCERS are breaks in the layers of the skin that fail to heal after injury due to insufficient supply of oxygenated blood as a result of poor circulation from narrowed arteries. They are often accompanied by inflammation and are mainly triggered by trauma but a blood clot and even standing / sitting for extended periods can also contribute to the risk. Leg ulcers mainly affect the elderly, but people with diabetes are especially at risk; however, smokers, people with high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and obesity are also potential candidates.
To alleviate the chances of leg ulcers developing, the primary cause (poor blood circulation) can be tackled.
Signs to look for:
Unusual swelling / inflammation in the leg
Dry, itchy & discolored patches of the skin
Weeping, raw wounds on the leg
Sudden appearance of prominent small veins
Unusual swelling / inflammation in the leg
Cleo Active is supplied with a complimentary nutrient rich cream. Naturally formulated with arnica, chamomile, comfrey and vitamin E, this light water based cream contains a potent blend of natural herbal extracts specifically chosen for their comforting and soothing properties, it acts to replenish and soften dryness and provide a smooth texture to under nourished crêpey skin.
> PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE (PVD) – the medical term given to circulatory problems associated with the feet & legs. It is brought on by a gradual hardening of the arterial walls, which restricts blood flow from the heart to the extremities, making the entire circulatory system inefficient, which can bring about symptoms such as leg ulcers, DVTs, and Lymph oedema, which are harder to treat. PVD can be a hereditary condition, but it can also affect the elderly, smokers, diabetics, people who carry excess weight and those with limited mobility.
When blood flow is poor, the whole body suffers because metabolic waste and toxins are not removed as they should be. Oxygen and cell nutrients are vital for cell repair and good health; when poor circulation stop this happening – it can lead to additional health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and poor leg and foot health.
Signs to look for:
Changes in skin colour – paler, with a blue or pinkish tint
Changes in skin temperature – cold feet & toes
Leg cramps or muscle spasms
Skin sores that do not heal properly excrete
> MUSCLE TENSION / pain often follows joint damage or excessive exercise, but can sometimes be a sign of rheumatic and arthritic conditions. It can be a continuous ache or periodic spasm and causes mild to acute discomfort. Blood circulation is an influencing factor in recovery from muscle tension, and although may not be a cure for arthritis, it can certainly help to relieve the associated discomfort. Severe muscle tension can prohibit normal use of limbs, meaning the body has to compensate by over using different muscle groups, which can be counter productive as it may lead to further injury and fatigue.
Massage is a recognized remedy for alleviating muscle tension as it mobilizes fluids and stimulates blood flow. If you are suffering from muscle tension due to injury or illness, an assisted massage may not be readily available.
Signs to look for:
continuous ache or periodic spasm
mild to acute discomfort in localised area
restricted use of limbs
> ACHING & FATIGUE in the legs is usually accompanied by aching and tension, and when the calf muscle is tired, it prevents the muscle pump from working efficiently which stops blood and excess fluids from being pumped back to the heart.
Muscle fatigue could be due to overuse, too much exercise, or holding muscle in the same position for a long time, however there are some health factors that can also contribute, such as injury, inflamed tendons, nerve damage, varicose veins, Atherosclerosis (that blocks blood flow in the arteries) and poor circulation.
Signs to look for:
Tension and prolonged discomfort
difficulty controlling movement
> COLD TOES & FEET: a very common, painful and inconvenient problem that affects people of all ages, but primarily those aged over 40 because of poor circulation. Most who suffer from cold toes and feet do so due to the body’s response to low temperature. To protect itself, the body reduces blood flow to the extremities by keeping the blood in the main arteries, which leaves the feet cold. This commonly happens during winter, but can also happen if you are stationary for long periods, so people with restricted mobility are especially vulnerable.
Certain serious medical conditions can cause chronic cold feet, such as impaired circulation (peripheral neuropathy) and inactivity, along with those suffering from: Raynauds Syndrome, Diabetes, Arthritis, Muscular Dystrophy and Cerebral Palsy.
For the majority of people, cold feet and toes are simply due to inadequate blood flow which can be quickly and easily rectified by stimulating circulation.
Signs to look for:
Numbness and insensitivity to temperature and pain
Cramps and sharp pain in the feetBurning, tingling sensations and sensitivity
Unusually cold feet
> VARICOSE VEINS are veins that have become enlarged and tortuous, most commonly occurring in the superficial veins of the legs. They are caused by a misalignment of leaflet valves (which prevent blood flowing backwards), so that when leg muscles pump blood back to the heart, the valves don’t work properly, allowing blood to escape back down – enlarging the vein. They are subject to high pressure, especially when standing or walking for long periods, and can often be painful and itchy. Although serious complications are rare, it is important to treat the condition by simple self-help methods.
Elevating the legs as regularly as possible is one way to ease varicose veins, however, compression is one of the most successful forms of treatment if you want to avoid surgical intervention.
Signs to look for:
Heaviness & aching in the legs (especially at night)
Skin discoloration near the affected area
Reddening, dryness and itching
Appearance of spider veins
Swelling in the ankles
Sudden cramps when standing
Abnormal bleeding of minor injuries in the affected area
Irritability / restlessness in the legs
> HYPERTENSION: high blood pressure is another cause of poor circulation; cholesterol is deposited along the walls of blood vessels, arteries and the heart, which makes them hardened. When arteries become damaged or clogged, the volume of blood passing through reduces, so the blood creates additional force against the vessel walls, which causes pressure to rise and blood flow to slow down.
Cleo Active is a lower leg and foot massage device which can be used as a substitute for manual leg massage, the benefits of which are widely reputed and recognised to assist in some of the above mentioned leg problems.
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