Sunday, 26 August 2018
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While varicose veins are largely caused by heredity and hormones, there are lifestyle habits that can increase your chances of developing varicose veins. Of course, this also means that there are lifestyle habits that can decrease your chances of developing varicose veins. These healthy habits include:
In this article, we’ll break down each of these principles to help you prevent and control varicose veins.
The more weight we carry around, the more strain we put on our legs. But it’s not just muscles and joints that are affected; our veins are also impacted by additional weight. Being overweight increases the likelihood of developing varicose veins and worsening varicose veins.
You are probably wondering the cause and effect of weight gain and vein disease. The veins carry the blood back up towards the heart, as the blood is pumped primarily by the muscle contractions we we walk. As we gain weight the fat applies pressure to the leg veins increasing the work needed to pump the venous blood back up the legs. This pooling of blood can lead to varicose veins, spider veins and legs swelling.
If you’re overweight, and especially if you have a family history of venous disease, it’s time to discuss a healthy weight loss plan with your doctor. If you’ve already developed varicose veins, losing weight can help prevent them from getting worse.
Those high heels are undeniably fashionable, but they’re wreacking havoc on your circulation. Slim fit jeans that cut into your skin and leave behind marks when you take them off also aren’t doing your health any favors.
Save the heels for special occasions, or limit them to just once per week. There is a wide selection of fashionable flats that look very professional and cute with the right outfit. Ballet flats are very popular right now, so take advantage of the trend for the sake of your health. As for the slim fit pants, find a pair that doesn’t pinch.
It’s obvious when you think about it: elevate your legs to help the blood flow move back up toward the heart. This keeps the blood from pooling in the leg veins, causing varices. Of course, the veins have a valve and pump system that helps pull the blood back up, but these mechanisms can malfunction or even fail. This risk is increased by a sedentary lifestyle, long-term bed rest, pregnancy, weight gain, or simply because you inherited it from your parents.
Make leg elevation a daily practice by lying down on your back and elevating your feet above your heart. You can do this on a couch with a stack of pillows, or you can lie on the floor and extend your legs up the wall. Make it a point to do this when checking your social media accounts, texting friends to make plans, or catching up on emails at the end of the day.
You’re probably tired of hearing doctors telling you to exercise more, but we have good reasons. The human body is built to move and move a lot. Advances in technology and easy accessibility of life’s necessities make it simple for us to sit back and relax a little more than we should.
That being said, if you’re in front of a computer all day or standing still on a hard surface for work, it can be difficult to schedule in any kind of exercise routine. We recommend setting a timer to remind you to stretch a few times per day. Flex your calf muscles or go for a short walk. Take one-on-one meetings or calls on a walk, if possible, to get in some additional steps and get that blood flowing.
Graduated compression is a circulation miracle, and they’re more fashionable than ever! Socks, stockings, sleeves, and even leggings add the right amount of compression to the legs and feet, improving circulation and leg comfort. You can wear them during your work day, while flying, and even during exercise.
You don’t have to have a problem with varicose veins or circulation to use compression garments, either. These are a great way for anyone to prevent circulation problems, varicose veins, and even blood clots. This is especially important if you’re a frequent flyer, spend most of your time sitting down in front of a computer, or if you’re pregnant.
Patient education is a passion of ours here at Vein Specialists of the South. We want to help you make healthier choices. Whether you have bulging varicose veins or you just have some leg aches you can’t explain, we’re here to help you with home care advice and guidance and, if necessary, professional treatments.
Our Vein Education and Evaluation events are designed to:
Join us during our next event.
Additionally, we offer multiple convenient ways to get started on a path toward health and wellness:
Contact us today to get started. You can schedule an appointment in Macon or Warner Robins, get more information, or to RSVP for our next free event. We hold events in our conveniently located Downtown Macon practice.
Dr. Kenneth Harper, founder of Vein Specialists of the South, has evaluated more than 22,000 patients and performed over 18,000 procedures since 2000. Dr. Harper is a leader in comprehensive vein care, having focused on diagnosis and treatments for varicose veins, spider veins, venous ulcers, and leg swelling since 1997.
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Macon, Georgia 31201
4851 Bill Gardner Pkwy,
Locust Grove, GA 30248
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