At Palisades Vein Center, we are here to help all of our patients love their legs through varicose vein treatment, but we also want to educate our clients on positive lifestyle changes to keep their legs looking as great as possible naturally. If you are already seeing some preliminary signs of varicose veins developing and want to prevent them from worsening, there are a few natural tactics you can implement in your life that can help prevent or prolong varicose veins from worsening.
Stay Active. The best thing you can do for yourself to prevent varicose veins is to exercise and stay active, because blood circulation is very important to maintain vein health. Make sure to talk to your doctor so they can recommend an exercise regimen appropriate for you. A good rule of thumb with any type of exercise is to start small and then increase your activity level when you have built enough endurance and strength. One thing to keep in mind is that high intensity exercises can increase blood pressure in legs, so it is best to proceed carefully and work up to an impactful routine safely to help with overall circulation.
Eat Healthy. Along with exercise, it’s almost important to eat healthy and maintain a proper weight. Excess pounds can cause unnecessary pressure and stress on your legs aggravating veins.
Prevent Sitting or Standing for Long Periods. Whether you work at an office desk all day or you are constantly on your feet all day, both can cause stress on veins. It’s important to keep a good balance between both standing, sitting, and stretching to improve blood circulation as much as possible.
Wear Compression Socks or Stockings. Compression hose are so beneficial for many reasons. Overall compression stockings are designed to help lessen pain and swelling in your legs, which contribute to varicose veins. They can also lower chances of getting blood clots or other circulation problems. Compression stockings are made out of a snug, stretchy material that gently squeeze your leg to encourage constant blood flow, making it harder for it to pool in veins and clot.
Avoid Tight Clothing & High Heels. Another thing you can do to put less stress on your legs is to avoid restrictive clothing and high heels. Restrictive clothing can prevent healthy blood flow int the abdomen, legs, and groin. If worn for long periods of time, high heels can also hinder circulation so flat or low-heeled shoes are better to prevent varicose veins and improve muscle tone.
Although these lifestyle changes can help prevent varicose veins from worsening, they can’t prevent them entirely. Varicose veins can also be hereditary and can be more common in certain demographics depending on age, gender, and pregnancy. Luckily, if you have varicose veins, medical varicose vein treatment is available to reduce the appearance of unsightly veins so you can love your legs again. Please contact us at Palisades Vein Center to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your options.