Thick legs - causes, symptoms, therapy

Swollen or fat legs can have a variety of causes, with vascular disorders such as venous insufficiency or diseases of the lymphatic system, but also chronic circulatory disorders and heart and kidney diseases are among the possible triggers. Since the swollen limbs may be a manifestation of serious illness, therapeutic help should always be sought.

definition

Basically, the thick legs are divided into two different categories according to their causes. On the one hand, the fat legs caused by fat deposits, on the other hand, the leg swelling caused by a backwater of body fluids. The latter is colloquially also "water in the legs" the speech. In turn, the fat distribution disorders can cause the formation of fluid accumulations in the tissue, so that both factors often occur in parallel.

Increased fat pads on the legs are mainly found in women, whereas men tend more to the beer belly. (Photo: Jerzy)

Symptom swollen legs

The term thick legs describes at the same time their main symptom. Although the localization and spread of the swelling can vary significantly depending on the causes, but usually thick legs are swollen from the foot up. It collects fluid between the tissue and skin, causing the limbs to increase significantly in their circumference. If the legs are raised, the swelling often goes back within a relatively short time. Especially affected sufferers after a full day standing or sitting under swollen feet, ankles and lower legs. Due to the monotonous load, the blood in the leg veins and the fluid in the tissue build up. If the legs are raised and / or cooled, the blood can flow back more easily towards the heart and the swelling stops. However, the fat legs can also take on a kind of chronic course, meaning those affected suffer from swollen legs almost every evening or even during the day - often accompanied by spider veins or varicose veins. In such cases urgent therapeutic measures should be taken. In addition, if the skin begins to discolor, at the same time pain or only one leg is swollen, there is no way around a doctor visit. Especially critical are sudden acute leg swelling. These require a timely medical examination.

In principle, the entire leg can swell up to the hip, but in most cases, the swelling is limited to the area of ​​the feet and ankle to a maximum of the lower leg. The swelling may cause a feeling of tightness in the legs and possibly a slight numbness. Limitations of the ability to move are also not uncommon. Depending on the causes of leg swelling, the edema (fluid retention) in total in extremely different forms. Therefore, the corresponding symptoms in the different triggers of the fat legs are explained in more detail. (Fp)

Continue reading:
Thick legs due to venous disease
Infections, diseases of the lymphatic vessels and organs
Other causes of swollen legs
Diagnosis of swollen legs
Treatment of fat legs