Only at first glance it seems that the legs are far enough away from the lungs and heart, but in fact the leg veins are a direct route for a blood clot – once broken off, it can reach the pulmonary artery in a matter of minutes.
That is why it is important to know about preventive measures and ways to avoid blood clots in the veins.
What to do to avoid blood clots?
Healthy lifestyle is actually the main preventive measure which implies quitting smoking, rational nutrition, active living, limiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages…
Also, it is very important to provide the body with the necessary amount of drinking water. If you do not consume enough water, especially with increased fluid consumption by the body, it thickens the extracellular medium, and then the blood itself. As a consequence, the risk of thrombosis increases.
For people who suffer from hereditary or acquired varicose veins, I recommend making it a rule to wear compression stockings. This will be useful both in everyday life and when playing sports.
Another useful habit to prevent blood clots is to swim regularly in a swimming pool. Your body will be very grateful to you for helping it to maintain the tone-volume balance of blood circulation.
There are also many exercises that can save you from thrombosis. You don't have to go to the gym or use additional equipment to do them. The most important and effective one is walking. Make it a rule to walk for 20-30 minutes a day, it will keep you safe.
Prevention of thrombosis in the veins of the lower limbs can be very effective if you are not lazy and dedicate at least 10 minutes a day to your health. These simple exercises will keep your legs healthy and protect them from blood clots:
Exercises for feet and fingertips
Sit on a chair and place your feet at a 90-degree angle. First raise your heels and keep your fingertips on the floor, then vice versa. Do this 15 times. This exercise should be repeated eight times a day.
Then, lie down and first pull your fingertips towards yourself, and then away from yourself. Repeat this movement 15 times. For the best effect, you should perform it several times a day.
Shin exercises
Stand up straight. Lift one leg first, bending it at the knee, then straighten and bend the ankle in a slow controlled movement. Repeat 15 times. The most important thing in this exercise is to keep your body in balance.
Stand so that your feet are at the width of the hips, then rise on your toes and descend to the starting position, repeat 13 times.
To prevent blood clots, it is very useful to stand or walk on your toes for five minutes a day, so that the pressure in the legs during exercise increases and the blood in the veins does not stagnate.
Exercises for hips and knees
The starting position is standing. You need to stand on one leg, and the second, bent at the knee, make circular movements to the center, then outward. Repeat these movements five times in both directions and on both legs.
You can also stretch the back of the thigh. It is performed as follows: stand so that your feet are at shoulder width. After that, one leg is slightly bent at the knee, and the second leg is straightened and put on the heel. Next, with a straight back bend to this leg until you feel tension on the back of the thigh and knee area. Stand in this position for 30 seconds and change the leg.
Exercise for leg muscles
This exercise is great for boosting circulation and improving blood flow, as well as strengthening leg muscles.
Sit on a chair and place your legs at a 90-degree angle parallel to each other. Use your hands to lean on the front of your thighs. After that, stand up from the chair at a slow controlled pace and straighten your legs. Repeat this exercise 12 times.
Thrombosis is a dangerous hidden disease. According to statistics, more people die from it than from car accidents and cancer. You can prevent the development of this disease by leading an active and healthy lifestyle!