Heavy, tired or aching legs? Swollen feet and ankles? These may be early signs of vein disease.

Symptoms may appear in the evening after a long day of sitting or standing. They can also become worse in summer or during hot weather.

If your legs feel uncomfortable, take care of them and speak with your doctor. Medical compression socks may be recommended to help support your leg health.

Heavy Legs: What Are the Symptoms?

Heavy legs are often described as a feeling of discomfort and/or pain in the legs. These symptoms are especially common after long periods of sitting or standing, such as during a workday.

This can affect people in many types of jobs where movement is limited, such as office workers or bus drivers, as well as those who spend several hours a day standing, such as hairstylists, surgeons, nurses or other service professionals.

What Causes Heavy Legs?

If you have discomfort from heavy and/or swollen legs, your venous return may be affected. The calf muscle pump, which helps move blood from the feet back toward the heart, may not be activated enough when you sit or stand in the same position for long periods of time.

Heavy legs can be an early sign of vein disease. When the vein valves no longer close properly, blood can pool in the veins. This may lead to vein disease or venous insufficiency.

  • Pain
  • Heaviness
  • Tingling
  • Itching

Venous insufficiency is a progressive condition. If left untreated, it can lead to complications that may sometimes be serious, including

What Factors Affect Leg Health?

Long-distance travel, maternity, menopause and long periods of sitting or standing can put additional strain on your legs. Many other factors may also have a negative impact on leg health. Here are some of them:

  • Gender. Women are twice as likely as men to develop varicose veins. In fact, 57% of women experience circulation problems, compared with 26% of men.
  • Age. The risk of vein disease increases with age, as the cells in the vascular system also age. From the age of 35, the risk of spider veins increases.
  • Family history. If one of your family members has vein disease, you may have a higher risk of being affected. If both parents have vein problems, the risk increases to over 79%.
  • Obesity. Obesity is an important risk factor for developing vascular disease. The risk of venous insufficiency increases tenfold with obesity.

Heavy Legs: What Can I Do?

Try building a few simple habits into your routine to help relieve or prevent heavy, uncomfortable legs:

  • Limit long periods of standing or sitting whenever possible.
  • Avoid high heels.
  • Do not cross your legs.

The recommended treatment for heavy legs: medical compression socks

Medical compression is a simple, drug-free solution suitable for most body shapes. A medical compression product is an elastic textile, such as a sock, stocking or pantyhose, that applies active pressure along the leg to help support venous circulation and the return of blood to the heart.

You may notice a beneficial effect from the first time you wear compression socks, with reduced pain, swelling, heavy legs and muscle stiffness. Medical compression may also help prevent complications.

Sigvaris products help improve venous blood flow, increase energy and support healthy legs. Your doctor can help you find the Sigvaris compression product that is best suited to your needs.

Note: If you frequently experience leg pain or legs that feel heavy, tired and uncomfortable, and your symptoms do not improve after a good night’s rest or after elevating your legs, you should speak with a doctor. They can check whether a more advanced stage of vein disease may be causing your heavy legs.

Using ultrasound, a doctor can assess the blood flow in your veins and identify which part of the venous system in your legs may be affected.

Sigvaris compression products can help you prevent uncomfortable, heavy legs during the day, especially when travelling long distances or working for long periods while sitting or standing.

6 Simple Tips for Healthy Legs

  • Stay Active. 


    Avoid sitting or standing for long periods. Physical activity improves circulation and helps support the return of blood to the heart. Take a short walk, use the stairs and move around at the office and at home.

  • Cool Down.


    After a long, demanding day, especially in summer, you can refresh your legs with a cool shower or a cool bath. Avoid prolonged heat exposure from sunbathing, hot baths or saunas, as excessive heat can dilate the veins and may cause swelling.

  • Elevate Your Legs.


    To support your body’s natural circulation, elevate your legs when sitting on the sofa or lying in bed at night. At the office, use a footrest under your desk.

  • Compression Socks.


    Wear compression socks, especially in higher-risk situations such as long-distance travel or times when you are not moving for extended periods. We offer a wide range of compression products designed to fit your lifestyle. These products can help improve circulation, increase energy and support healthy legs. Your doctor, therapist or pharmacist can help you find the product that is best suited to your needs.

  • Weight Management.


    Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition and regular physical activity may help reduce the likelihood of leg discomfort and swelling.

  • Quit Smoking.


    Smoking can harm almost every organ in your body and increase the risk of developing varicose veins and related complications, such as venous leg ulcers.

Summary

Any feeling of discomfort in the legs may be a sign of vein disease.

Understanding Vein Disease

  • The term chronic vein disease describes a long-term condition in which venous return is impaired.

  • When vein valves do not close properly, reflux occurs: blood flows downward and pools in the vein, leading to venous hypertension. This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI, and can lead to edema, skin changes and, in some cases, ulcer formation.

  • If left untreated, chronic venous insufficiency can lead to serious complications, including phlebitis and pulmonary embolism. The CEAP classification system is used to distinguish between the different stages and forms of chronic vein disease.

  • Acute vein diseases usually occur without pre-existing conditions, but they can also be triggered by chronic vein disease. In any case, prompt medical attention is required. Acute vein diseases include superficial vein inflammation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, post-thrombotic syndrome and bleeding varicose veins.

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