Heavy, swollen legs are the nightmare of many people when the heat hits. They give a feeling of tiredness and you can even feel pain or a burning sensation, especially when walking.
Why do my legs feel tired and sore?
The symptoms of swelling, burning, and a feeling of heaviness reflect a circulatory problem that manifests mainly in the lower extremities. They are a sign that there may be a venous circulatory insufficiencythat is, a difficulty for the body to direct the blood that comes from the feet towards the heart, overcoming the force of gravity.
venous insufficiency manifests itself more with heat. This is because the environmental heat causes the blood vessels – especially the veins in the legs, which are the ones that support the most pressure – to dilate and have more blood volume.
The increased blood volume does not cause congestion and swellingbut it increases the temperature of the feet and legs, which can even cause itching and pain.
How to improve circulation in tired legs
Video: Effective plants that promote circulation
To stop or improve the problem you can adopt several measures aimed at stimulating circulation and improve venous return:
1. Increase your consumption of raw vegetables
The ideal is that you maintain a reasonable weight with an adequate diet, abundant in fruits and vegetables and a large proportion of raw foods. Make sure raw foods make up at least two-thirds of your diet during spring and summer.
2. Apply cold water
It is important finish the shower or bath with cold water to provoke vascular gymnastics that involves the alternating dilation and contraction of arteries and veins.
When you come home with swollen and hot legs, a very effective hydrotherapy exercise is also apply two minute squirts with cold water on each leg.
You must always apply the jet from the foot towards the groinand then dry only the feet and leave the legs wet, to prolong the stimulus of the cold water.
walk in cold water of a river or the seashore, with the massage of the waves, also helps.
3. Move and activate those legs
Practice exercise all year round to tone muscles, that help propel blood. Swimming or cycling without resistance are exercises that promote circulation. On the other hand, it is not advisable to overdo leg exercises with heavy weights or resistance.
4. Take infusions to improve circulation
With the first days of heat and until autumn, it is very useful to take plants or phytotherapeutic preparations two or three times a day to improve circulation and strengthen veins and capillaries.
Among the most effective plants are horse chestnut, butcher’s broom, red vine, witch hazel or cypress, for example.
5. Elevate your legs while you sleep
Elevating your legs relieves heaviness at any time, but I also advise you, at night, to sleep with feet a little higher than the trunk. It doesn’t have to be much: 2 or 3 centimeters is enough.
6. Don’t compress your legs
Finally, avoid wearing tight clothing, such as tight socks and pants, especially around the thighs. Also opt for breathable fabricsof thread or cotton.