Tips to Reduce Appearance of Varicose and Spider Veins
Here are some tips from Dr. Sepiolo on how to reduce the appearance of varicose and spider veins!
- Risks factors for the development of varicose veins include family history, pregnancy, and lack of mobility, specifically prolonged standing.
- Regular exercises like walking, running, cycling or swimming help to keep blood vessels healthy which helps reduce varicose veins.
- Avoid activities where you stand in one place for long periods of time, and if you are unable to move about, exercise in place by contracting your calf muscles by going up on your tiptoes several times an hour. This exercise empties the veins of the legs preventing over distention of the veins.
- Exercise frequently. Exercise empties the veins of the legs and is beneficial to the cardiovascular system.
- Wear good quality graduated compression hose if you have vein problems such as varicose veins. Wearing these compression hose on long air flights will reduce the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Elevate your legs above the level of the heart while sleeping and try to rest your legs by keeping them up whenever convenient. This empties the veins of blood thus reducing the pressure in the veins.
- Keep your body weight in the normal range. Obesity increases the venous pressure in the legs and cause added stress on the cardiovascular system.
- If you are pregnant, you should be keenly aware of the increased risk of developing vein problems that accompanies pregnancy. These risks include development of varicose veins and the occurrence of clots in leg veins in both the superficial and deep veins.
- Eat a healthy, high fiber diet and avoid constipation, which leads to staining and increasing intra-abdominal pressure, which in turn is transmitted to the veins of the leg.
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing or undergarments etc. girdles, stockings and socks that restrict blood flow at the waist, groin and legs.
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