Leg health is an important aspect of your health. However few people ever think about it. Poor circulation, long hours spent standing or sitting, and other factors can cause blood to pool in your lower legs. This can lead to a host of other health problems. If you want to be proactive about keeping your legs healthy, or if you experience a lot of achiness, fatigue, or swelling in your legs, check out these 5 tips to improve your leg health.
1. Exercise
Getting your heart pumping and your blood flowing is an excellent way to improve the health of your legs. Exercise tones your muscles, increases the flow of blood and oxygen to your limbs, and helps you gain more endurance and stamina for other daily activities and exercise. When you exercise, always remember to stretch properly. Stretching is an important part of healthy and safe exercise. Stretching prevents injury and warms up your muscles.
2. Wear Compression Stockings
There are many benefits of wearing compression stockings. They’re not just for varicose veins and you don’t need to have a medical condition to benefit from compression stockings. Wearing compression stockings daily can help promote the circulation in your legs, keeping the blood in your legs healthy and oxygenated. Compression stockings can help reduce the fatigue you feel from standing for long periods of time. It can also help prevent the formation of varicose veins. Compression stockings are also great for traveling because they reduce fluid retention and stress in your legs.
3. Elevate your Feet and Legs
If you’re standing or sitting for long periods during the day, you might experience heaviness, aching and swollen legs. That’s because gravity has been pulling your blood down to your feet. Elevating your feet is a way of using gravity in your favor. For those times when you cannot prop up your feet on an ottoman or stool – such as in an airplane or during a long car ride – you can wear compression stockings to obtain similar benefits.
4. Develop Healthy Habits
Developing healthy habits in your lifestyle will improve the health of your legs. Things like getting some exercise, quitting smoking, practicing proper nutrition and sleeping well can all have a positive long term impact on your legs.
5. Talk to your Doctor
If you are having trouble with your legs or feet, it’s important that you take the time to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. Your doctor will be able to give you a diagnosis on your leg health. Knowing about what conditions and symptoms affect your legs is an important first step to treating your legs well. With a proper diagnosis from your doctor, you’ll be able to deal with your symptoms properly.