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In everyday life, many people may ignore some of the minor symptoms that appear in their legs, thinking that they are just the result of fatigue or lack of exercise. In fact, some of the symptoms in the legs can be a sign of lung disease and deserve attention.
Especially for adults over the age of 35, understanding these signals and taking timely action can help with early detection and treatment of potential health problems.
Edema of both legs and lung disease
Leg edema is a common symptom that manifests as swelling of the legs and difficulty in recovering from depression after compression. Edema usually results from the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space in the body, and lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are an important cause of this symptom.
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have right-sided heart failure, which causes congestion of the systemic circulation, causing fluid to accumulate in the legs and form edema.
According to a 2018 study by Baumann et al., 60% of COPD patients have leg edema, and the degree of edema is positively correlated with the severity of the disease. If you notice that your legs are swollen for no apparent reason, you should be alert to lung health problems.
Weakness of leg muscles and lung disease
In addition to edema, leg muscle weakness is also a symptom to be concerned about. Leg muscle weakness manifests as difficulty walking, unsteadiness in standing, muscle fatigue, etc. This symptom is often associated with pulmonary hypertension.
Pulmonary hypertension is a condition caused by increased pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs, affecting the delivery of oxygen to the lungs and throughout the body. Due to the lack of oxygen supply, the leg muscles tend to fatigue and weaken.
A 2015 study by Verma et al. in the United Kingdom found that 75% of patients with pulmonary hypertension developed leg edema and 50% reported leg muscle weakness. If you often experience weakness in your legs, especially after light activity, you should consider whether you have lung problems.
Leg pain and lung disease
Leg pain is also one of the symptoms that can be triggered by lung disease. Leg pain manifests as persistent and exacerbated with exercise, and is common in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism.
Pulmonary thromboembolism is an acute condition caused by an artery in the lungs being blocked by a blood clot. The condition is often accompanied by deep vein thrombosis in the legs, which causes leg pain.
A 2009 study by Fried et al. in the United States showed that 30% of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism had deep vein thrombosis in the legs, and 20% of them reported leg pain. If you experience leg pain, especially if you have symptoms such as difficulty breathing, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
Other leg symptoms to be taken care of
In addition to the above common symptoms, cold and numbness in the legs, skin changes, etc. are also signs that need to be taken seriously.
● Chills and numbness in the legs: This may be related to circulatory disorders caused by peripheral vascular lesions, which are often associated with lung disease.
● Leg skin changes: such as pigmentation, ulcers, etc., these changes may be caused by immune or circulatory abnormalities caused by lung diseases.
Conclusions and Recommendations
From the above, we can see that some symptoms of the legs are closely related to lung diseases. Symptoms such as leg edema, muscle weakness, pain, etc., can be a sign of lung problems and should be taken seriously.
Especially for middle-aged and elderly people, the appearance of these symptoms should cause alarm and timely medical examination to ensure early detection and treatment of potential health problems.
In daily life, we should develop good health habits, maintain a moderate amount of exercise, and have regular physical examinations, especially lung and heart examinations.
Eat a healthy diet and avoid smoking to reduce the risk of lung disease. If you experience the above leg symptoms, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible for a comprehensive health assessment and diagnosis.
bibliography
● Baumann U, Routes JM, Soler-Palacín P, Jolles S. The lung in primary Immunodeficiencies: new concepts in infection and inflammation. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1837.
● Verma N, Grimbacher B, Hurst JR. Lung disease in primary antibody deficiency. Lancet Respir Med. 2015; 3:651–60.
● Fried AJ, Bonilla FA. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of primary antibody deficiencies and infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2009; 22:396–414.
Through the detailed introduction of the above content, I hope that you will have a deeper understanding of the leg symptoms caused by lung diseases, and can pay attention to your own health signals in your daily life, and take timely actions to protect your health.
Finally, what experiences and insights would you like to share? Feel free to leave a message in the comment area!