LOVE YOUR LEGS
Y
How much thought have you given
to the health of your legs? Here is
help for two of the most common leg
problems facing Americans today.
By Linda Hepler, BSN, RN
20 WWW.MAXMUSCLE.COM ı FEBRUARY 2011
ou may not consider your legs to be your better half
– especially when squeezing them into those too-
tight jeans. But the average American’s stems put up
with a lot of abuse. They carry your body from two
to five miles each day, doing your every bidding. They walk,
run, jump, skip and hop – and so much more. It’s no wonder
then, that when something goes wrong with your legs, it
can seriously cramp your style. Here are two common leg
problems that athletes may experience – and some ideas
for what to do about them.

Varicose Veins
What are they? Veins are the blood
vessels that return deoxygenated
blood from the outer parts of the
body back to the heart. When you
are standing or sitting with your legs
hanging down, gravity pulls the blood
downward. Built-in valves in the legs
typically open up to allow blood to
flow back upward, and then close to
prevent further downward flow. But in
about 20 percent of Americans, these
valves don’t close, which allows blood
to push downward unchecked, causing
pressure to build. As the pressure
increases, veins can dilate, resulting in
gnarled, enlarged veins.
While any vein may become
“varicose,” the veins most likely to be
affected are those in the legs and feet.
Depending upon the size and location
of the veins, they can bulge outward,
or spread near the surface of the skin
(spider veins).
What causes them? According to Gary
Gwertzman, MD, FACS, Director of
Vascular Surgery at the Kings Highway
Division of Beth Israel Medical Center
in New York City, “There is a strong
genetic component.”
And, he adds, varicose veins
occur more commonly in women,
especially during pregnancy, and while
taking birth control pills or estrogen
replacement therapy. Other lifestyle
factors that contribute to varicose
veins are prolonged standing or sitting
(such as during travel), obesity and
straining, such as might occur with
chronic constipation or a prolonged
cough. Max Muscle Sports Nutrition (MMSN), is
How serious are they? “Varicose pleased to introduce L•TOX for adults to help
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common symptoms are pain, or a to modulate the two main detoxification
feeling of heaviness in the leg.” enzyme systems in the liver, known as the
Those with varicose veins can also Phase I and Phase II pathways. L•TOX also
have swelling, itching and burning. It’s contains important liver antioxidants and
also possible to have bleeding from nutrients to nourish the liver for optimal function.
superficial veins near the skin and even
clotting of the blood in the veins. “The KEY FEATURES
bleeding can be quite dramatic,” says • Promotes Liver Phase I and Phase II
Gwertzman. “But it is easily controlled Detoxification Systems.†
by elevating the legs and applying • Provides Nutrients For Balanced
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Clotting in a varicose vein is often • Antioxidant Protection.†
painful, but rarely serious.” • Advanced and Comprehensive
But if there is clotting, cautions Formula.
Gwertzman, you need to be monitored
for extension of the clotting into the
deeper veins, which is a more serious
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What are the treatment options? There
are lots of things you can do to treat
present varicose veins as well as the
formation of others. These include:
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• Elevate your legs above the level of
your heart periodically throughout
the day.
• Wear compression stockings (for
fashionable options such as dress
socks, footless or opaque tights
and thigh highs, log on to www.
AmesWalker.com). For best results,
put them on in the morning before
you start walking around.
• Avoid being overweight.
• See your health provider if you have
chronic constipation or a chronic
cough to help relieve conditions that
cause you to strain.
• Do not cross your legs while sitting.
• Walk as much as possible. When
working at a desk for long periods
of time, try to get up each hour and
walk around, allowing the muscles
to pump the blood out of your veins.
When traveling, get out of the car or
get up as often as possible to walk
around.
If varicose veins are severe, or
continue to be bothersome despite
home treatment, there are a number
of treatments that doctors can do,
says Gwertzman. These include direct
injections of the veins (sclerotherapy),
laser vein closure, or open surgery in
an operating room. “Treatments rarely
require hospitalization, and are done
in offices or ambulatory centers,” he
says.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is when a
blood clot forms in the deep veins of the
body, often in the legs. DVT can cause
pain, swelling, redness and warmth in
the affected area. But it may also occur
without any noticeable symptoms.
What causes it? DVT is caused by
anything that interferes with normal
blood circulation, or anything that
impairs proper clotting, says Peter
Lawrence, MD, Chief of Vascular
Surgery at UCLA and Director of Gonda
Vascular Prevention Center, UCLA.
“Some people have a genetic condition
where they have ‘thicker’ blood that is
more prone to clotting,” says Lawrence.
And pregnancy, certain estrogen
medications such as birth control
pills, obesity, and certain cancers can
predispose you to develop DVT. “But
the biggest cause of DVT is anything
that causes immobility,” he adds.
Some common situations that can
cause immobility, which slows the
circulation of blood, says Lawrence, are
ı FEBRUARY 2011
constant traveling, accidents, injuries,
illnesses or surgical procedures that
lead to prolonged inactivity.
Additionally, those who participate in
certain sports, such as weight lifting,
swimming or pitching during baseball,
are at risk of developing DVT of the
upper body, usually the arms.
How serious is it? DVT can be a very
serious condition, says Lawrence,
because a blood clot that has formed
in your vein can break loose and travel
into your lung. There it can cause low
oxygen levels in your blood, problems
breathing, damage to your lungs – and
possibly even death.
What are the treatment options? If
you suspect you might have DVT, it’s
important to get to a doctor, preferably
a vascular surgeon or interventional
radiologist, says Lawrence. Treatments
include blood thinners and compression
stockings for less serious cases. More
serious clots may require “clot buster”
medications to break up the clot, or
even surgery to remove the clot or
to insert a filter to protect against it
lodging in the lungs.
Prevention is the best treatment for
DVT, says Lawrence. Some preventive
measures include:
• “Know if you have a family history
of blood clotting, especially
‘unprovoked’ clotting,” recommends
Lawrence. Unprovoked clotting,
he explains, is DVT that develops
independently of a condition that
causes immobility. Those with such
a family history should be tested to
determine if they have the hereditary
clotting condition.
• Avoid obesity.
• If you will be having surgery, especially
orthopedic surgery that involves the
lower extremity, ask your doctor if
you are at risk for developing blood
clots. You may need to take blood
thinners before and after the surgery.
• Wear compression stockings if
recommended by your doctor.
• Exercise your calf muscles if you’ll
be sitting for a prolonged period of
time, such as during airline travel.
Information about exercises to
do while sitting, as well as further
information about DVT, can be found
at www.economyclasssyndrome.net.
So listen up. Stand on your own two
legs, and take steps to care for them
properly. They’re more likely to carry
you through the day – and into the
years ahead. MS&F