Responsiblility - What you can do

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Responsibility -- What You Can Do

There are a few easy steps you can take to help relieve symptoms of leg fatigue and congestion. These steps will also help stop the progression of your symptoms, and help prevent leg ulcers and blood clots from occurring.

Elevate your legs at least 3-4 times each day for at least 15 minutes each time

Elevation means placing your legs on pillows, a chair or other object so that your feet are above the level of your knees, and your knees are above the level of your hips. You should try to avoid sitting with your legs down and stationery for more than an hour at a time. You can put your feet up while performing sit down tasks. Elevating your legs to the level of your hips won’t reduce swelling but it will keep the swelling from getting worse. Elevation of your legs above the level of your heart is needed to reduce swelling.



Exercise your calf muscle every hour

You can draw figures with your toes, push your toes towards the floor and then point them up towards your nose, stand on the balls of your feet, tiptoeing up and down, walk, or swim. Any movement of your calf muscle helps to move blood back to the heart.



Wear Gradient Compression Stockings

Wear daily except while in bed, bathing, or swimming.

Other Actions You Can Take To Help Your Legs

Avoid crossing your legs

Avoid smoking

Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes

Eat a low sodium diet (low salt)

Achieve and maintain the proper weight for your height and build

(Your doctor or nurse can advise you further on this)