Tips to Keep Your Varicose Veins From Getting Worse

Varicose veins are sometimes a symptom of an underlying circulatory issue. Although they affect as much as 35% of people in the United States, you shouldn’t ignore them. Instead, talk to your physician about your cardiovascular health. 

Whether or not your varicose veins signify any underlying conditions, they themselves are primarily cosmetic issues. At Women’s Health Institute in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia, Nnaemeka Umerah, MD, and Anayo Umerah, MD, treat varicose veins with advanced aesthetic strategies like sclerotherapy, laser vein ablation, and phlebectomy. 

If you just have mild varicose veins but want to stop them from getting worse, you can take steps at home to prevent them from worsening. Our providers at Women’s Health Institute recommend following this guide:

Don’t stand or sit for too long

Either of these actions can contribute to poor blood flow in your legs. While you’re probably pretty conscious about prolonged sitting or standing at home, you might not think about it so much at work. 

Occupations that involve driving long distances or sitting at a desk involve a lot of sitting and enough focus that breaks might not be on your mind. If this is the case for you, you can stop your varicose veins from getting worse by taking a break every now and then to stand up, walk around, and stretch your legs. 

On the other side of the coin, many people have jobs that require them to stand all day. Because this is also a risk for varicose veins, you should rest your legs occasionally throughout the day by sitting down. 

Use compression garments

Compression garments are articles of clothing that fit very snugly to compress your tissues. When worn on your legs, they help restore upward blood flow in your veins. 

A large part of the reason you get varicose veins is the valve malfunction inside your leg veins. The valves open and close and are supposed to push blood upward against gravity. When they no longer work properly, blood falls backward and pools in your veins, which causes the walls of the veins to weaken and expand. 

When you use compression garments, you support healthy circulation. Talk to our providers during your next visit about getting prescription compression stockings that apply a specific level of pressure to your legs.

Exercise regularly

You’ve probably heard a physician recommend regular exercise more than once in your life due to its countless health benefits. One major benefit of consistent exercise is better cardiovascular health, which means more sufficient blood flow. 

There may be a few circumstances where exercise isn’t advised due to underlying health risks, especially specific exercises that stress your veins. But low-impact workouts like walking or cycling can improve your vein health. If you haven’t exercised in a while, you should start out slowly and gradually build up to more intense exercises according to your physician’s instructions. 

If you have varicose veins and want to learn more about managing them on your own, call Women’s Health Institute or schedule a visit online at your earliest convenience.