Varicose veins affect more than 40 million Americans. Varicose veins are caused by a build-up of pressure in the veins, which causes the valves that slow blood flow to weaken. This causes the blood to pool in the veins and causes them to swell.
It is common for patients to ask our doctors what varicose veins are, how varicose veins are prevented, and how they are treated. At MVM Health – Pain, Vein & Wellness, our experienced team of specialists strives to provide answers to those questions along with affordable and personalized treatment and care for each of our patients.
Are Varicose Veins Preventable?
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent varicose veins. Those who have a family history of varicose veins are more likely to develop the condition. However, with effective treatment and some lifestyle changes, you can prevent varicose veins from getting worse and prevent new ones from forming.
7 Ways to Prevent Varicose Veins from Getting Worse
Although there is no known way to stop the development of varicose veins, there are many things you can do to enhance the blood flow in your legs and prevent varicose veins from getting worse.
1. Exercise regularly.
When blood is moving from your legs to your heart, it moves against gravity. Your leg muscles help your veins push blood to your heart. That assistance will help prevent more serious symptoms such as constant pain and will also help prevent the development of new varicose veins.
2. Weight Loss
If you are overweight or obese, the excess weight places more stress on your legs. Losing weight can release some of the pressure on your legs. If that isn’t inventive enough, weight loss comes with many other benefits including reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
3. Avoid standing or sitting for a long time.
Advances in technology have generally been great for society. One of the unfortunate side effects is office workers remaining sedentary or standing for extended periods of time. People with jobs that keep them seated or standing without movement are at a greater risk of developing varicose veins or making them worse. Walking for a few minutes forces the leg muscles to move blood toward your heart. It is recommended to take a short break every 30-60 minutes if your job requires you to stand or sit for long periods.
4. Wear Properly Fitting Clothes
Wearing extremely tight clothing can place more pressure on your legs. Doing so for a long time can make varicose veins worse.
5. Give Your Feet a Break
You may have heard that picking up your teeth can help blood flow to your heart. It’s true! Placing your feet on a chair or stool or lying down with your feet slightly elevated can make it easier for blood to flow through your body and back to your heart. If you have a job that keeps you sedentary, raising your feet for a few minutes can relieve some of the stress and pain caused by the pressure in your muscles and veins.
6. Wear A Support.
Wearing support pantyhose is a good preventative measure to keep varicose veins from spreading. Pantyhose do not apply as much pressure as compression stockings but offer just slight support to your veins being pushed outward. Compression stockings offer more pressure that can be applied to your ankle and lower leg to help blood move back toward your heart. Be sure to discuss this treatment option with your doctor who can recommend or prescribe a compression stocking as part of your treatment plan.
7. Treatment for Varicose Veins.
Treating varicose veins is an obvious method to stop their spread. There are many different treatments for varicose veins. Your personalized treatment plan will address the issues you are having including chronic pain, blood clots, and cosmetic distress. The most popular treatment is called varicose vein removal surgery, and it is known to be one of the safest and most effective treatments for varicose veins there is.
All of the physicians & staff at MVM Health – Pain, Vein & Wellness in East Stroudsburg, PA are committed to providing treatment options to help you treat varicose veins and related symptoms.
Dr. Mariam Salisu. Dr. Vwaire Orhurhu, and Dr. Mohamed Osman together have decades of experience providing a wide variety of pain management and regenerative therapies. Contact our office to learn more about how we can help you.
