Want your elderly family members to live longer healthier lives? Want them to stay mobile for as long as possible?There is a silent killer hiding in nursing homes and bedrooms across the nation. It is not Covid-19 or fall-related injuries…
It’s the chair they’re sitting in.
Sitting for too long is wreaking havoc on senior circulation. And the worst part? Many people have no idea it’s happening.
Here’s the good news.
When you understand how sitting affects blood flow, you can take measures to avoid serious complications. And the easiest place to start? Changing how your elderly family members sit.
From chair design to seating habits. Let’s dig deeper.
Table of Contents
- Sitting Hurts Senior Circulation Because…
- Blood Not Flowing = Major Health Risks
- Chair Design Really Does Matter
- What You Can Start Doing Today to Improve Circulation
Sitting Hurts Senior Circulation Because…
When you sit down, gravity causes blood to rush into your legs. Your body has no problem compensating for this when you’re young.
However, as you age your heart and blood vessels lose efficiency.
Artery walls thicken and stiffen. The heart develops excess fibrous tissue. Sensors that detect blood pressure become less sensitive. Suddenly your body struggles to send blood back up from your legs.
That leads to:
Blood pooling in your legs and lower body. Senior complaints like swelling, numbness, cold extremities, and tingling are due to poor circulation.
Research published in the American Heart Association journal even shows that sitting decreases blood flow through your veins and arteries. Which limits glucose metabolism and increases insulin resistance in just one week.
Yep. Sitting is seriously bad for senior blood circulation.
Blood Not Flowing = Major Health Risks
If you notice chronic swelling in your legs or elderly loved ones complain of cold feet, take notice. Poor blood circulation can lead to serious complications.
Circulatory problems can cause:
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Life-threatening blood clots that travel to your lungs
…but did you know that sitting for long periods of time affects your whole body? Not just your legs?
Recent studies by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute show that women over the age of 60 who sit for more than 11.5 hours a day are:
At a higher risk for premature death
When compared to women who sat less than nine hours per day.
Yikes.
Here are a few signs that blood is not flowing properly:
- Cold hands and feet. Poor circulation cannot effectively deliver blood to your extremities.
- Swelling in legs and ankles. Fluid buildup is a sign of stagnant blood flow.
- Tingling means your nerve endings are being affected by lack of blood flow.
- Discoloration in skin. If your skin is dark in color or patches of skin lose their natural hue, blood is not reaching those areas.
The bottom line?
Poor circulation is bad news for your senior’s health. But you can encourage better blood flow with a few simple tips.
Chair Design Really Does Matter
When it comes to sitting for long periods of time, not all chairs are created equal.
Some chairs can actually do more harm than good. Chairs that are too deep force your legs to bend at the knees. This causes you to sit on your thighs instead of behind them.
And when you sit on your thighs, you are pressing down on your blood vessels. Restricting blood flow even more.
Same goes for chairs that are too low to the ground. Senior care home residents who struggle to rise from their seat will sit for longer periods of time.
And chairs without back support cause you to slouch. When you slouch your abdomen compresses your organs and veins. Restricting circulation even further.
If you want to promote healthy blood circulation, look for chairs that have the following features:
- Seat depth that doesn’t cut off circulation behind your knees
- Proper seat height so feet can rest flat on the floor
- Firm cushioning that offers support
- Arm rests to help seniors push themselves up
- Tilt or recline options to elevate legs above heart level
Elevating legs is key to promoting blood circulation while sitting down. When legs are above the heart, blood has an easier time traveling against gravity.
Looking for comfortable chairs for seniors that promote circulation? There are plenty of options designed specifically with elderly blood flow in mind.
What You Can Start Doing Today to Improve Circulation
The best part is that you don’t have to go broke trying to improve your senior loved one’s blood circulation.
Research published in JAMA Network Open found that cutting sitting time by half an hour a day led to a reduction in systolic blood pressure for seniors.
Seriously. Something as small as getting up and moving around a little more can make a huge impact.
Try these tips:
Too much sitting is bad. Everyone should change positions and get up to walk around every 30-60 minutes. Move your legs if you have to. Pedal your feet or do some calf raises.
Even weight shifting from side to side helps promote blood flow and improve senior circulation.
Does your loved one enjoy sitting in one place for hours? Try exercising their legs without leaving the chair.
There are tons of seated leg exercises that are easy to do. From ankle rolls to leg lifts. Simple movements will get blood moving throughout your legs and body.
Wear shoes and socks that aren’t constrictive. I know grandma loves her cute socks with sprinkles and hearts on them. But stay away from tight socks and shoes that can easily squeeze the life out of your legs.
Compression stockings may actually help with circulation by compressing legs and promoting blood flow.
Keep the home at a comfortable temperature. I know we all love to crank up the heat when it’s cold out. But sitting in a cold room causes your blood vessels to constrict.
As your blood vessels constrict, it becomes harder for blood to flow throughout your body.
Drink plenty of water. Hydration thins your blood and makes it easier for your heart to pump.
Pulling It All Together
There you have it.
Sitting for long periods of time has a detrimental effect on senior blood flow. Poor circulation can lead to numbness, swelling, and serious health complications.
But chair design and seating positions can help improve your senior loved one’s circulation. Encourage them to get up and move around regularly. Or try seated leg exercises to get the blood flowing.
Remember:
- Sitting causes blood to pool in your legs.
- Poor blood flow can cause serious health conditions.
- Chair height and depth matter.
- Elevating your legs above heart level improves circulation.
- Move around every 30-60 minutes.
- Doing seated leg exercises can improve circulation.
Start making these changes today and see the difference for yourself.