It is very easy for people to miss signs of declining health. However, many times, despite witnessing the symptoms, people choose to ignore it and hope that it goes away. But one must understand, even for illnesses like a simple fever, one needs some type of treatment, even if it is simply rest. Ignoring your health will only lead to worse problems in the future. One such aspect of health that people often ignore is their leg health. In a recently posted video, Dr. Rema Malik, a Board-Certified Vascular Surgeon in Houston, explained that people often ignore their leg health, the title of the video being, “You Are Your Worst Enemy When It Comes To Your Leg Health.” The surgeon highlights a pattern of self-sabotage where people frequently ignore or downplay signals from their legs, which can indicate serious circulation problems. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Ramsey (@laurenramseymd)]]>3 Key Symptoms of Declining Leg Health According to the surgeon, people become their own worst enemy by creating "normal" excuses for symptoms that are actually abnormal. This dismissal stems from the fear of facing a potential circulation issue. The surgeon points out common examples of how people brush off serious signs: Calf Cramps: Dismissing a recurring, nagging calf cramp as merely a "charley horse." Swelling: Attributing swollen ankles at night to simply being "on your feet a lot today." Varicose Veins: Choosing to hide new, painful varicose veins instead of finding out the underlying cause. The surgeon stresses that while it feels easier to ignore the "whisper from the legs," the moment a person stops making excuses, they become their own best advocate for a future of easy mobility and freedom. Why Is Leg Health Important? According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, the strength and quickness of leg muscles (leg power) are connected to common long-term health problems in older adults, specifically osteoarthritis (joint pain), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (heart problems). The main goal was to see what current research says about how these diseases affect leg power, especially since research suggests that older people with these conditions can improve their leg power through exercise. The team ended up analyzing 16 studies in total: 5 on osteoarthritis, 5 on diabetes, and 6 on heart disease. Most studies suggested the same thing: older adults with these chronic diseases generally have lower leg power compared to those who don't have the diseases. The existing research generally shows that osteoarthritis, diabetes, and heart disease are connected to weaker leg power in older adults. However, scientists can't make strong conclusions yet because the studies reviewed were too different and didn't use the same ways to measure leg power. Why You Shouldn’t Dismiss Leg Symptoms Especially After 40? This pattern of ignoring leg symptoms is risky at any age, but the stakes are significantly raised for individuals over the age of 40. After 40, the risk of developing progressive vein disease and Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) increases exponentially. These conditions involve serious circulation problems that worsen over time if left untreated. The surgeon encourages individuals to shine a light on any leg symptom they have been ignoring.
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