The venous return flow from the legs can also be influenced by breathing. When you inhale, a negative pressure is created in the chest area, which literally sucks the blood out of the legs – provided you take a deep breath. When you breathe out correctly, i.e., using the abdominal and flank muscles, the pressure on the abdominal vessels increases and accelerates the return flow to the heart.

Breathing correctly

• breathe in slowly through your nose, as deeply as you can
• exhale forcefully while tensing your abdominal muscles, as if you were trying to blow absorbent cotton flakes into the air
• avoid squeezing

This exercise can be done again and again during the day. It is simple but very effective.