|
TIRED, swollen aching legs are all
possible signs of pending varicose veins. This problem affects
nearly 50 percent of middle-aged adults; women are affected about
four times as frequently as men. Preventing varicose veins isn’t
always possible, but you should do everything you can to avoid the
hassle of treating them. Dermclinic, one of the country’s premier
exponents in professional dermatological care, offers a list of
things to do to prevent the onset of varicose veins:
l Exercise
regularly. Take 30-minute or longer walks several times a week or
participate in other exercises, such as bicycling or jogging, to
strengthen leg muscles and improve blood circulation. Before
beginning an exercise program, check with your doctor, especially if
you have health conditions such as heart disease, high-blood
pressure, arthritis or breathing difficulties.
l Avoid
standing for long periods. Sit down frequently and elevate your
legs. While standing, shift your weight often from one leg to
another. Bounce up and down on the tips of your toes several times
an hour. Take a walk if you can. After a day that has required many
hours of standing, elevate your legs for about an hour.
l Keep your
legs elevated when you sit or lie down. When your legs are off the
ground, and raised to at least the level of your heart, the veins in
your legs have an easier time moving blood to your heart. Put your
feet up when sitting at home, and put a pillow under your feet when
you are in bed.
l Avoid
sitting for long periods. If you must sit most of the day at work,
take several breaks from sitting throughout the day and take short
walks to improve circulation. Try not cross your legs when you sit.
Crossing your legs compresses the veins and can affect blood flow in
the leg.
l If you are
at high risk for varicose veins or already have them, wear
compression stockings. Put the stockings on before you get out of
bed every morning and wear them all day. Compression hose are
available in most pharmacies
l Avoid tight clothing. Clothing that restricts blood flow increases
your risk of developing varicose veins.
l Don’t wear
high heels. High-heeled shoes make you use the muscles in your
buttocks, rather than calf muscles, to walk. Walking in high heels
does not promote blood flow in legs. Low-heeled or athletic shoes
help strengthen calf muscles and improve circulation.
l Keep your
weight down. Too much body fat, particularly in midsection, can put
pressure on your thighs and groin, weakening the walls and valves of
the veins in your legs and groin.
l Eat foods
high in fiber. A high-fiber diet will help you avoid constipation, a
condition that puts pressure on the veins in the anus and increases
the risk of hemorrhoids.
l Consider
taking Vitamin C supplements. There is evidence that Vitamin C may
help strengthen blood vessel walls.
If all else
fails and you find varicose veins troublesome, Dermclinic offers
Sclerotherapy as an option for varicose vein removal.
|
