Stand up for leg health

MANILA, Philippines - Nocturnal cramps. It’s a common leg problem, which you have experienced yourself.  You are asleep in bed or about to fall asleep when you suddenly feel that painful spasm in your leg. Pamumulikat is our local term for it. You think it’s because you were on your feet all day and you’re tired, so you simply suffer the pain in silence until it passes. And then you forget about it.  But it might be something more serious than you think.

“Leg complaints are not a problem by themselves, but they may already be early warning signs of a progressive vein disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI),”

Dr. Martin Anthony Villa, head of the Varicose Vein Center at St. Luke’s Medical Center, notes.  â€œIf left ignored, this condition can have a significant impact on the leg’s function, affecting one’s mobility.”

“CVI is an abnormality of the vein function, preventing the veins from pumping blood from the leg back to the heart,” Dr. Villa explains.

Some of the physical signs are: the appearance of varicose veins as well as changes in the skin, hyper pigmentation, itching, and swollen leg.

CVI appears to be more common among women, although it may also occur among men.

Other risk factors are heredity, age, weight, pregnancy, and prolonged standing and even sitting. A study among 4,000 women from four countries in Europe and Latin America showed that 25 percent experienced recurring leg pain, reports Mely Guerrero, group brand manager of Boehringer Ingelheim consumer healthcare division. Of these, 16 percent did not consult anyone, while 14 percent spoke with family and friends.

In the Philippines, 28 percent suffered recurring leg pain related to vein problem. Seventy-five percent did not take any medication. Of the 25 percent who did, 77 percent took a pain reliever.

“The complacency to address their leg issues stems from a clear misconception and lack of understanding about vein conditions,” Guerrero observes. “It’s an unmet need.”

“Don’t disregard leg pains,” Dr. Joy Pabellon, Boehringer Ingelheim medical affairs manager, remarks.   “The key is to improve blood circulation in the leg area.”

Antistax, a product of Boehringer Ingelheim, is “made with natural red vine leaf extract, which is known to contain a unique ingredient called bio-active Flaven, a potent combination of flavonoids which has been scientifically proven to improve blood circulation in the legs by repairing and protecting the vein walls to fight against the damaging effect of vein disease.”

 â€œThe red vine leaf extract is made from a special variety of grape leaves which are carefully harvested and processed to ensure that the bio-active Flaven content is the same for each tablet,” Dr. Pabellon notes.  â€œIt’s a unique and patented extraction process.” One tablet contains as much flavonoids as you can find in three bottles of wine.

Antistax is the first and only anti-varicose supplement in the Philippines. To celebrate its launch on the local market, Boehringer Ingelheim commissioned five Filipina photographers “to capture gorgeous legs of women in various shapes, sizes, and situations.” The exhibit titled “Legs for Life” showcasing photos by Sara Black, Shaira Luna, Ia Genato, Ria Regino, and Mau Aguasin “aims for women to understand and appreciate that beautiful legs are legs that are healthy.”

“CVI is a non-lethal disease, but it’s a lifestyle-limiting disease. It can hamper mobility, which is important. It has an impact on the quality of life,” Guerrero points out. “Antistax restores, regenerates, and protects women’s natural mobility by preventing common leg vein problems.”

Here are some health tips to keep your legs in tip-top condition:

• Keep your legs moving for good circulation.

• Cool water is your legs’ best friend. Take a quick cool shower at the end of the day and massage your lower legs with your fingers.

• Elevate your legs for at least 10 minutes.

• Minimize crossing your legs for an extended period of time.

• Maintain a balanced diet and incorporate high fiber in your diet.