Varicose veins are caused due to dysfunctional valves and the factors that increase the risk of varicose veins include ageing, genetics, obesity, hormonal changes, pregnancy, and occupations that require standing for prolonged periods of time. Regardless of the reason, if left untreated, varicose veins can lead to painful ulcers, bleeding, infections, and serious complications. So, if you’ve been living with varicose veins, here are 4 Do’s and Don’ts for varicose veins.
DO’S
- Do Exercise to Stay Fit and Active
Regular exercising improves blood flow, keeps you active, and strengthens your legs. You can walk, jog, run, or dance depending on your age, general health, and what you enjoy. Exercising will also keep your weight under control and reduce the risk of injury, infection, and bleeding due to additional pressure.
- Do Wear Compression Socks for Varicose Veins to Boost Blood Circulation
Wearing compression socks helps improve the circulation of blood. Unlike regular socks that block blood flow, compression socks for varicose veins are designed to apply gentle pressure on your legs. This pressure graduates upward from the foot to help increase blood circulation and decreases the expansion of veins.
- Do Take Breaks to Relieve the Pressure on Your Legs
If you stand for long hours, change your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. And, if you are sitting at a work desk for hours together, take a break every half an hour to stand up and move around.
- Do Maintain a Healthy Dietto Avoid Swelling
A balanced diet that is rich in fibre, Vitamin C, flavonoids and antioxidants reduces the risk of blood clot in hand and feet considerably. And if you want to keep your hand and legs healthy, avoid a diet that includes too much salt or sugar because it is problematic for your veins. So, follow a low-salt diet that is also sugar-free and see your condition improve over time.
DON’TS
- Don’t Sit or Stand in the Same Place for Longer
Don’t stand in the same spot for long periods as it lowers the flow of blood in your legs. While sitting, keep your legs elevated or in resting position to reduce the risk of blood clot in foot.
- Don’t Wear High Heels
Choose flat or low-heeled shoes and stay away from high heels. Heels exert extra strain on your calf muscles and this can further aggravate varicose veins.
- Don’t Cross Your Legs
Do not cross your legs when you are sitting as it lowers the flow of blood and makes your condition worse. When resting, keep your legs elevated or on a pillow to increase the flow of blood in the extremities.
- Don’t Smoke
Smoking invites a slew of health problems and your veins are no exception. The toxic chemicals in cigarettes cause your blood to thicken over time. They also start losing oxygen due to which the blood starts flowing slowly while the nicotine in the cigarettes hardens your arteries. This can lead to the formation of a blood clot in foot so if you want to avoid all of these problems, toss away that pack of cigarettes.
The longer you leave varicose veins untreated, the higher is the risk of developing serious health problems. So don’t wait long enough to develop deep vein thrombosis because you wouldn’t want to deal with this debilitating condition. Follow these varicose veins do’s and don’ts to skip all these worries and unnecessary stress and get your health back on track by treating your vein problems early on.
Author Bio:
Rory Donnelly – Rory is the R&D Director and passionate entrepreneur, fascinated by the workings of the human body and natural solutions for common health problems. He’s single-minded in his aim to make Copper Defence a brand that’s recognized across the globe, by partnering with global brands to make these high-tech materials easily accessible for everyone. If you’d like to get in touch, email Rory at Rory@copperclothing.com or visit copperclothing.com for copper-infused clothing, pet accessories and more.
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