How to Keep Legs Warm With Poor Circulation

Poor circulation can be caused by a variety of disease factors. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, the most common cause of poor circulation in the legs is peripheral vascular disease secondary to diabetes. Decreased circulation slows the blood flow through the body. The decrease in warmed blood prevents the body from staying warm. There are many methods that can be used to warm the legs other than bundling up under a million blankets.

Things You'll Need

• Heating pad
• Compression socks

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Instructions

Heating Pad

• 1

  Plug a heating pad into a power source. Turn it on to a comfortable setting.

• 2

  Allow the heating pad to reach the set temperature before use. Most heating pads take approximately 10 minutes to reach set temperature. The dramatic increase in heat will have a greater overall effect on your internal temperature.

• 3

  Place the heating pad behind your knees or in between your thighs. Your blood vessels are closest to the skin here and this will allow them to maximize contact with the heating pad.

Increase Circulation

• 4

  Put on a pair of compression socks. The socks fit snugly around your legs, which will slightly squeeze the underlying vascular structures and increase circulation.

• 5

  Wear several layers of clothing. Multiple layers of clothing will trap the heat that radiates from the skin. Conserving this heat and keeping it close to your body will help to keep you warm.

• 6

  Perform an activity that increases your heart rate. Even if you are not able to perform strenuous cardiovascular exercise, simple tasks such as sweeping the floor, cooking or daily errands can raise your heart rate. You can also raise your heart rate by doing leg lifts while sitting in a chair. An increased heart rate will warm your legs by increasing the blood flow systemically.