Take These Steps to Prevent Varicose Veins

If you want to avoid those unsightly, painful varicos e veins, there are some things that you can do. In some cases, varicose veins are inherited from other family members, but you can still use these tips to help lessen the chances of developing severe varicose veins, if you start today.

One of the easiest ways to prevent varicose veins is to keep your feet and legs elevated above your heart as much as possible. This allows blood to flow in the correct path through your body, preventing it from pooling up in the veins in your lower extremities, leading to varicose veins. When you are watching TV or reading, sit of the couch with pillow under your legs, not only will you be very comfy, but you will be preventing varicose veins at the same time!

Having and sticking to a daily exercise regimen can also help prevent varicose veins, while boosting your overall health at the same time. Just spending thirty minutes each day walking, swimming, riding a bike, or taking the stairs can help prevent varicose veins. Exercise helps keep blood and oxygen flowing throughout your body, improving the circulatory system, which will prevent or lessen the severity of varicose veins. If you don’t already have a regular exercise routine, you should see your doctor first, to be cleared to start one. Certain underlying medical conditions may need to be taken care of first, or may affect the types of exercises that you are able to do.

Try to not stay in the same position for long periods of time. If your job requires you to sit or stand in one place, move your feet and legs around as much as possible, to keep blood flowing. When you get a break, do some simple stretching exercises, which will also help.

When you will have no choice but to stand or sit for a long period of time, such as the case with those who frequently travel, wear support hose. You may not like them, but they really will help prevent varicose veins from forming. If you already have varicose veins, your doctor may suggest you wear support hose at all times, especially when you are at work or in bed at night, to prevent clots.

Try to eat a balanced, healthy diet so that you can stay at your ideal body weight. If you are already overweight, talk with your doctor about your best options to get the weight off as quickly as possible, to decrease your risk of developing varicose veins. You may be put on a special diet and exercise program, given prescription medications, or even suggested for gastric bypass, depending on how much weight you need to lose. It really is important to get the weight off, because the extra weight really puts a lot of stress and pressure on the veins and muscles of your legs, which could lead to more serious health concerns.

For women, try not to wear shoes that have high heels, as this also creates pressure on the veins in the legs, leading to varicose veins over time.

There are many changes that one can make to their lifestyle that can aid in the prevention of varicose veins. Now that you know a few of the more common preventive measures, try to start applying them to your own day to day life, and see what a difference they can make!