Has your elderly loved one been having pain in their legs? Maybe they don’t get pain in their legs, but their legs seem swollen or tired all the time. If this is the case, they may not be getting enough circulation in their legs. The good news is there are ways that your elderly loved one can improve circulation in their legs starting today. Be sure to encourage your elderly loved one to start doing these things with the help of elderly care right away.
Getting Hydrated
One of the reasons for reduced circulation in the legs is being dehydrated. If your elderly loved one isn’t drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, they may be dehydrated. When someone is dehydrated, their blood is thicker. This means it can’t flow or circulate as well throughout the body. If your elderly loved one won’t remember to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, you and their elderly care providers may need to remind them.
Exercising
If someone is sitting down most of the day, their blood isn’t going to flow or circulate, as well. The blood will especially not be circulating well in the legs, since the legs are still most of the day. If your elderly loved one needs to improve the circulation in their legs, exercising is a great way for them to do that. They don’t even need exercise equipment for this. In fact, walking is a great way to improve circulation in the legs.
Changing Their Diet
Another way that your elderly loved one can improve the circulation in their legs is by changing their diet. Research shows there are many foods that can improve circulation throughout the body. Some of these foods include mackerel, sardines, salmon, olives, leafy greens, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Any foods that have high Vitamin C levels in them are great for improving circulation, as well.
Sitting Better
How does your elderly loved one sit? If their legs are crossed a lot of the time or they slouch, this could be putting excess pressure on their legs – impeding blood flow. This could be reducing circulation in their legs which can cause pain, discomfort, and tiredness in the legs. It is important that you and elderly care providers remind your elderly loved one to sit up straighter throughout the day.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways that your elderly loved one can improve circulation in their legs. Be sure to share these tips with them today.
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-circulation-in-legs
