While not considered a serious health condition, varicose veins can lead to complications. This condition comes in the form of enlarged, twisted, and often very noticeable veins in the leg area. People who have varicose veins tend to feel embarrassed about them because of the way they appear. Milder varicose veins, often called spider veins, are less noticeable and appear more often in a starburst pattern in the face or leg area.
Why Do Varicose Veins Appear?
Finding out how to prevent the formation of varicose veins means determining exactly why this condition appears. It all starts with excess pressure on the one-way valves that are found in the veins. Frequent exposure to excess pressure can weaken and damage these valves, and once they’re damaged, they’ll allow the blood to pool in the veins. The veins are then exposed to excess pressure, which causes them to enlarge and become more visible.
Preventing the formation of varicose veins is not a one-time effort. Rather, the person will need to implement a few lifestyle changes and stick to them to reduce the chances of damaging their veins. From getting more exercise to investing in a good pair of women’s or men’s compression socks, here are some of the things men and women can do to improve their circulation:
Find Out the Risk Factors
Some people are more prone to getting varicose veins than others. Varicose veins are often seen among females, older and overweight individuals, inactive people, pregnant women, those who take contraceptive or hormone pills, people who have had leg injuries, and smokers.
Persons who belong to one or more of these categories should take steps to actively avoid the condition. Those with family members who have varicose veins are also more likely to experience this condition themselves. In this case, they might not be able to prevent getting varicose veins altogether, but they can delay it for as long as possible by living a healthy and active lifestyle.
Avoid Standing or Sitting for Too Long
Prolonged sitting or standing can lead to many health problems, including the formation of varicose veins. Staying in a single position for too long makes it more difficult for blood to flow properly to the different parts of the body. When a person is sitting or standing, blood tends to pool around their leg area, exposing the veins there to greater pressure than usual.
Unfortunately, many occupations require people to stay on their feet or work in front of a computer for hours on end every day, and this is not good for their health. To promote better circulation and prevent blood from pooling in the leg area, people can wear compression socks. This device can help the vein valves stay in the right position, thereby reducing their chances of incurring injuries.
The good news is that many clothing brands are offering quality compression socks that won’t look out of place in the modern office. Indeed, wearing a pair of compression socks to work can help a person promote good vein health and blood circulation.
Schedule Exercise Breaks
Wearing compression socks alone won’t completely eradicate one’s chances of forming varicose veins. It’s also important for a person to stay active. Understandably, taking part in vigorous exercises while in the workplace is not an option for everyone. That being said, scheduling a few minutes of stretching and walking every hour or so is already a step in the right direction.
Outside of work, it’s healthy for people to engage in exercises that they can enjoy in the long term, such as yoga, dancing, or brisk walking. Exercising regularly will not only help people prevent varicose veins from forming, but it will also allow them to enjoy all the benefits of living a more active lifestyle.
Eat Healthy and Well-balanced Food
Obesity is one of the factors that can make a person more prone to varicose vein formation. Keeping their weight under control is a great move for people who want to reduce their risk of suffering from this condition. They can start by drinking enough water and incorporating more complex carbohydrates and a healthy amount of protein and healthy fats into their diet. There are also ingredients that they should avoid, such as excess salt, potassium, and high-fiber food.
Final Thoughts
If not addressed properly, varicose veins can lead to complications such as the swelling of veins and the formation of blood clots, which can be quite dangerous. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can develop from severe varicose veins. When this happens, a blood clot can form, break away, and travel to other parts of the body. If the clot gets to the lungs, this can lead to pulmonary embolism, which is a condition that requires immediate medical attention.
Those who have varicose veins can still use these steps to prevent further damage to their veins. At the same time, if they find themselves too bothered by the appearance of enlarged veins in their body, they can undergo medical procedures to address the issue. Take note, however, that most of these treatments involve the removal or destruction of the damaged vein. Overall, many health experts recommend following the tips above to prevent any more varicose veins from forming in the first place.