Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for overall wellbeing and longevity, not just for your leg and foot health. It helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as venous hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, all of which can cause or worsen leg and foot conditions.
A healthy lifestyle also improves mental health and can increase energy levels, improving productivity and quality of life. It can also help improve sleep quality, boost the immune system, and reduce stress levels – all of which will help you better manage your leg or foot condition.
By adopting healthy habits, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, you can improve your overall health and reduce the risk of developing health problems – including leg and foot conditions – in the future.
What can I do to start building a healthier lifestyle?
Developing a healthier lifestyle begins with making small changes to your daily habits and routines. Here are some steps to take:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet: Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats in your diet.
- Exercise regularly: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week. We know this can be hard if you are experiencing pain or discomfort form your leg or foot condition. Here’s our guide to simple exercises to help keep your legs and feet healthy
- Get enough sleep: aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- Manage stress: Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as meditation, Pilates, Yoga, or deep breathing exercises. Try this simple mediation for relaxation and pain management
How to keep your legs and feet healthy
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of chronic diseases and cause or worsen leg and foot conditions
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Don’t put off making that appointment with your GP or healthcare provider: This can help catch any potential health problems, including leg or foot conditions, early on
- Look after your skin: your skin is a key part of your leg and foot health. Here’s our 5 minute expert film on guide to how to look after your skin so it looks after you
Looking after your skin
Our skin acts as a barrier that protects us from wear and tear, infection and ultraviolet rays – but it needs to be looked after if we want to avoid skin problems. This film explores some of the common skin conditions you may get on your legs and feet, and give you practical solutions on how to keep your skin healthy.
Remember that developing a healthier lifestyle takes time and effort. Start with small changes and gradually build upon them over time. Celebrate your successes and don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up.
