Doctor, for almost 1.5 years my legs have swollen so much that I often cannot wear knee-high shoes (boots), not to mention short dresses. In addition, my blood vessels burst and bruises appear for no reason, mainly in the upper part of my legs. I am taking contraceptive pills, I reported my ailment to a gynecologist thinking that it may be related to taking them. The doctor prescribed me other pills, but unfortunately the swelling does not go away. The calves are mostly hard and clumped so that they are difficult to massage. I have a very active lifestyle, so I'm all the more concerned about these constant swellings. Should I do tests for circulation, so far I have not had a problem with the pressure, it was always normal. My mother has been suffering from hypertension for several years, but she has no problem with her legs.
Hello,
The described ailments may be partly related to the contraceptive pills you take, because such substances may adversely affect the efficiency of the venous system of the lower extremities. It would be advisable to check what the venous system looks like in your case by performing an ultrasound examination of the veins of the lower extremities, because the symptoms may suggest a deficiency of this system.
The worsening of ailments is fostered by smoking, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle (with legs down - if you might be worth putting your legs higher, as sometimes American cowboys do in old movies).
The second thing is the amount of pressure - you do not mention your specific pressure, but it should not exceed 120/80. If there was a higher blood pressure in home measurements (birth control pills can raise blood pressure in a person with a family history of hypertension), it will mean that you should pay attention to your diet in terms of sodium ion content.
I wrote about this diet many times on the occasion of posts on hypertension - I invite you to read them. Eliminate cold cuts, cheese, stock cubes, baguettes, vegetable seasonings and canned food from your diet. Vegetables, fruit, boiled meat, dairy products, rice and groats are recommended.
Regards
Dr. n.med. Krystyna Knypl
Remember that our expert's answer is informative and will not replace a visit to the doctor.
Krystyna KnyplInternist,hypertensiologist, editor-in-chief of "Gazeta dla Lekarzy".
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