In the middle of summer, due to the heat, circulation tends to deteriorate and can lead to a feeling of tiredness in the legs, cramps, swelling and even muscle aches. This problem is more common in women, but it also occurs in some men. The good news? With a good diet, exercise and certain products we can reduce and even eliminate that annoying feeling.
Why does the feeling of heaviness in the legs occur?
This is because the veins dilate more at high temperatures in summer. This improves blood circulation in the skin, allowing the body to release heat more efficiently. However, this can also cause the valves in the veins to stop working properly, preventing blood from flowing properly back to the heart. If the blood accumulates in the legs, a feeling of paralysis may occur and with it a feeling of heaviness in the lower extremities.
“Another cause of heavy legs in the summer is that the body loses a lot of fluids when it gets warmer. The blood becomes more viscous and the circulation slows down. This can also lead to a build-up of blood and the feeling of discomfort.
Finally, a predominantly sedentary lifestyle, vitamin deficiency, obesity, genetics, age, hormonal imbalance and lack of exercise can also lead to venous deficiency, that is, the blood flow does not work properly, causing the legs to swell and that feeling of heaviness in the legs occurs,” says pharmacist Belén Acero, head of Farmacia Avenida América and specialist dermocosmetics.
What to do to relieve the feeling of heaviness?
There are some simple things you can do to relieve the tingling, cramps, and even pain you may experience from heavy legs:
- Losing weight can help a lot as obesity can lead to varicose veins and diabetes, which causes fatty deposits to build up in the arteries, blocking blood flow.
- Stop smoking.
- Take plenty of rest days between sessions of vigorous exercise.
- Raising the legs above the level of the heart or massaging the legs, ascending to the heart, allows the blood accumulated in the legs to circulate properly and drain to the rest of the body.
- Wear compression stockings to promote more blood flow.
- Be physically active to lower cholesterol and improve blood circulation.
- Use dietary supplements that promote blood circulation. Ingredients such as ruscus, L-arginine, ginkgo biloba, red vine, blueberry or horse chestnut help relieve symptoms of heaviness in the legs and strengthen blood vessels.
- Add a cold gel with vascular protectants to your body routine that activates peripheral microcirculation. Ginkgo biloba, for example, can be helpful.
Source: Marie Claire
