If you notice blue, bulging veins on your skin, signs of varicose veins may be kicking in. Varicose veins are common, affecting about forty million Americans. The condition mainly occurs when the valves in your veins are damaged, malfunctioning and affecting the blood flow. But medical experts like Atur Kasha DO can help you get back to your quality life when you ensure the condition. The treatment plan might include some lifestyle adjustments you can make to improve the effectiveness of the treatment and prevent the condition from occurring in the future. Here are some changes you can adapt to.
Physical Activity
Doing exercises is one of the greatest ways to maintain your legs’ veins health. If you are at the risk of developing varicose veins, you can consider adding an exercise routine to your daily schedule and discuss with your doctor the right exercises for you. This can help improve blood flow in your legs and strengthen the veins. Some exercises are better than others, but you can make blood flow to and from your legs strong enough to keep your veins working effectively. Remember, you might not need intense exercises to gain blood flow. Low impact exercises like walking can help your veins.
Manage Your Weight
Extra weight only adds more pressure to your veins, increasing the chances of developing varicose veins and other complications like type 2 diabetes and blood pressure. Ensure you work with your doctor to learn ways to maintain a healthy weight that minimizes your chances of health complications. Remember that any extra weight you carry will stress your circulatory system and increase pressure in your veins. This forces your heart to work harder, getting blood all over your body. But you can choose to slim down to improve circulation and protect your vein health.
Manage Your Sodium Intake
Sodium is responsible for water retention in your body. The extra fluid contributes to increased blood pressure and can cause complications like varicose veins. Therefore, reducing your sodium intake can boost your vein health by reducing blood pressure. Remember that your body only needs a small amount of sodium for its functions, and a typical meal could have more than is required. Avoid foods with extra sodium to boost your circulatory health.
Elevate Your Legs
As mentioned earlier, standing or sitting for a long time is one of the leading contributing factors to varicose veins development. It limits blood circulation in your legs. But you can make some efforts to change your position depending on the nature of your work. But even if you cannot leave your desk, you can still improve circulation in your legs by flexing them, straightening them, and generally changing their position throughout the day. When you get home after work, remember to elevate your legs. You can lie down and place a pillow below your feet or use an elevating stool while seated on the sofa.
Different factors may cause vein complications like varicose veins. But you can have control. Get in touch with the varicose vein specialists at Desert West Vein & Surgery Center to get to the root of your condition, evaluate your risk factors, and understand the steps you can take to avoid the condition in the future. You can also book an online appointment as a step toward the highest-quality cardiovascular care.