Millions of individuals develop varicose veins at some point in their lives. This condition can cause discomfort when walking or standing, altering your daily activities. Some risk factors for varicose veins include contraception therapy, prolonged sitting or standing, age, pregnancy, obesity, and family history. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent the development of varicose veins. Some of these risk factors, including age and family history, are impossible to avoid. However, it is possible to prevent the progression of existing varicose veins. Read on to discover a few tips to prevent your varicose veins Glen Rock from worsening.
Table of Contents
1. Maintain A Healthy Weight
There is a strong correlation between obesity and the development of varicose veins. Extra weight puts more pressure on the legs, making it more difficult for the veins to circulate blood to the heart. Thus, maintaining a healthy weight substantially reduces the risk of developing varicose veins. If obesity puts you at risk for developing varicose veins, talk to your doctor about incorporating regular exercise and healthy eating into your daily routine.
2. Avoid Prolonged Standing Or Sitting
Standing or sitting for long periods can significantly weaken the blood vessel walls in the lower limbs, resulting in vein dysfunction that leads to the development or worsening of varicose veins. Regular position changes, short walks, and calf exercises may be beneficial if your occupation requires you to stand or sit for a long period.
3. Quit Smoking
One of the numerous negative effects of smoking cigarettes is high blood pressure, which weakens the vein walls. Blood traveling from the feet to the heart must fight gravity, and healthy veins are essential for the journey. If the walls of your veins are damaged, blood may start to pool, particularly in your legs. As a result, the pooled blood causes the veins to protrude through the skin.
4. Avoid Tight Clothing
The compression factor of clothing is moderate, but it can still restrict blood flow. Tight garments restrict the blood’s capacity to circulate into and out of the legs. This constraint can cause blood to pool in the legs, leading to varicose veins. In areas where varicose veins are already present, the additional pressure can trigger these veins to enlarge and bulge further.
5. Use Compression Stockings
In some cases, compression stockings ending below the knee are recommended to treat and prevent varicose veins. These stockings compress the area of your leg affected by venous insufficiency. This compression effect pushes blood against gravity and into a deeper network of veins to return blood to the heart. Long periods of standing or sitting require the use of compression stockings to prevent blood from pooling in the legs.
6. Elevate Your Legs
Elevating your legs, preferably above or at heart level, prevents blood from pooling in your lower legs and improves blood circulation throughout the rest of your body. Additionally, when seated, avoid crossing your legs at the knees. This sitting position constricts veins hence hindering blood circulation.
While some people only view varicose veins as an aesthetic issue, if you experience significant discomfort and pain, this venous illness can be quite daunting. Left untreated, the varicose veins could cause more serious complications like blood clots, bleeding, and leg ulcers. Luckily, by following a regular exercise routine, healthy dieting, remaining well-hydrated, and other lifestyle adjustments, you can keep this condition from worsening. If necessary, your doctor may also suggest more aggressive procedures like sclerotherapy, vein ligation and stripping, and more.
Tiffany is a Medical Student and also works as a fitness coach in part-time. She is also a writer and writes on health and fitness articles. Tiffany loves to engage with users and help them provide various useful information on General Health. She provides researched-based information and also featured on various blogs and magazines.