You’ve probably heard about varicose veins even if you’ve never had them. If you have dealt with them, you understand how frustrating they can be and the impact they have on your life.
Varicose veins occur when the blood vessels get too jammed with blood and become enlarged. This creates a raised, bluish appearance under the skin, which many people regard as unsightly.
The condition can also be rather painful. For people who have this condition, the appearance of the veins makes them feel less than their best, and the pain in their legs hampers their daily lives.
If you’re saddled with varicose veins, you might worry about how to prevent them from getting worse. Below are some tips to help you reduce varicose veins and the best ways to get treatment.
What Causes Them?
Varicose veins can develop for various reasons. Some people are more likely to get them due to their family history or age.
Women are most likely to get them, and pregnancy will increase the risk. Certain underlying causes and risk factors of varicose veins include obesity, hormonal therapy, age, and lifestyle.
Though there are some things you can do to live a healthier lifestyle, it’s usually not possible to completely prevent varicose veins due to so many risk factors. Once they’ve begun, however, you can do certain things to keep them from growing worse.
Three Ways to Keep Varicose Veins from Getting Worse
If you see varicose veins starting to form, you should visit a doctor or healthcare physician who specializes in varicose vein treatment. They are your best resource, both for treatment and for prevention tips.
Generally, though, the following pieces of advice can prevent varicose veins from getting worse:
- Don’t sit OR stand for too long: Varicose veins can form if you sit for many hours per day – but the opposite is also true. So if you tend to sit or stand for hours throughout the day, try to switch things up. You can try a few practices, such as stretching your ankles and elevating your legs for around 15 minutes, three times a day.
- Live an overall healthy lifestyle: Although a healthy lifestyle won’t eliminate all risk factors, a sedentary lifestyle or consumption of unhealthy foods can make your situation worse. Make sure you are getting regular exercise and eating a balanced diet. Drinking enough water each day is also essential, because that helps with circulation.
- Get compression wear: This is a more common and effective way to deter varicose veins from getting worse. Compression socks and stockings are readily available for purchase, and will often reduce such symptoms as pain and cramps. Your doctor can suggest the best options for you.
- Sleep and pregnancy: If you’re pregnant, your risk of varicose veins becomes much higher. Many healthcare providers advise pregnant individuals to sleep on their left side as a way to prevent varicose veins. Because pregnancy involves many heightened health risks for both you and the baby, it’s always wise to work with your physician.
Every person is different, and varicose veins may develop faster in some people than others. These general tips may deter the condition from developing faster or causing greater pain.
Varicose Vein Treatments
As you address varicose veins to keep them from growing quickly worse, it’s not uncommon to require some sort of treatment, especially if you are experiencing pain. Various surgeries and non-invasive options are available as treatment.
Your doctor will likely begin with the less-invasive options and work up from there until you feel good about the results. If you have questions about varicose veins or how to prevent them, contact a specialist in your area.
