Unilateral discomfort in the leg may indicate the initial stage of thrombosis.

Unilateral discomfort in the leg may indicate an early stage of serious diseases such as thrombosis or varicose veins. It can be difficult to distinguish between these diseases at the initial stage, but there are key signs that will help to suspect a particular pathology. Which ones, Alexandra Fileva, an expert doctor at the Hemotest Laboratory, told Izvestia on August 22.

"Varicose veins are associated with the failure of venous valves and weakening of the vascular wall. The main symptoms of the disease are a feeling of heaviness and distension in the lower extremities, which usually increases in the evening, cyanotic patterns or vascular asterisks on the skin of the legs, swelling, cramps of the calf muscles at night, itchy skin in the area of damaged veins," explains the doctor.

Thrombosis, she says, is characterized by the formation of blood clots in deep or superficial veins. Characteristic symptoms are sudden acute pain in the leg, local fever and redness of the skin over the affected area, thickening along the vein (if you press on it, the person will experience pain), swelling of the entire leg, as well as general malaise.

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The main difference between varicose veins and thrombosis is that with varicose veins, the symptoms increase slowly and are chronic, while with thrombosis they develop acutely and require immediate medical attention.

"The main risk factors for varicose veins include hereditary predisposition, prolonged static loads, overweight and obesity, hormonal disruptions and age-related changes. But the risk of developing thrombosis increases significantly against the background of immobility of the limb (for example, during rehabilitation after surgery or fracture), with certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Smoking or taking hormonal medications can also trigger this condition," says Fileva.

If you feel discomfort due to chronic venous insufficiency, you can try to perform simple exercises at home. For example, it may be useful to slowly get up on your toes and lower your entire foot (15-20 repetitions), do a "bike" (two to three sets of 30 seconds each), bend and unbend your feet (20-30 repetitions), and walk around without lifting your socks off the floor. If the physical condition allows, you can lift your legs — lying on your back, alternately lift them at an angle of 90 degrees (10-15 times each leg).

Such exercises will help improve venous outflow and reduce discomfort at an early stage of varicose veins. But if thrombosis is suspected, any intensive exercises are contraindicated — in this case, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Medical attention is also required if one of the legs suddenly swells, acute pain occurs in the leg, which increases when walking, and the skin on the leg becomes red or bluish.

On April 19, Svetlana Semenova, Head of the Department of Modern Wellness Technologies and Adaptive Physical Education at the State University of Education, spoke about the dangers of the habit of slouching. According to the expert, prolonged retention of a slouched posture can lead to the development of kyphosis of the thoracic spine, and then your constant companions will be back pain spreading to the arm and neck due to muscle strain and deformation of the vertebral discs.

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