How to Prevent Varicose Veins
- 1). Stand up straight. Good posture helps decrease pressure in your veins.
- 2). Maintain ideal body weight. Too much weight causes the entire circulatory system to work harder, which in turn increases the inside pressure of the leg veins.
- 3). Keep your legs uncrossed when sitting. Crossing legs slows the upward flow of blood back to the heart and increases the pressure on the insides of the leg veins.
- 4). Exercise regularly, choosing low-impact activities such as walking, cycling, rowing and swimming. These activities will improve overall circulation without adding undue pressure to the veins.
- 5). Avoid standing in one place for a long period of time. If your job requires that you must, such as for a bank teller or grocery clerk, wear mild compression hose. These types of hose help blood pump more efficiently back to the heart.
- 6). Stretch your legs if you have to sit for long periods. Rotate your ankles and flex your toes while you are sitting.
- 7). Wear clothing that doesn't constrict your waist, groin or legs.
- 8). Avoid high heels. The undue stress they put on your lower legs can cause a constriction in blood flow from the leg back to the heart.
- 9). Raise your legs up 6 to 12 inches above your heart when you are lying down. This allows the blood in the lower legs to flow easily back to the heart, and lessens the work of the valves. Think of it as a kind of respite for your lower legs.
- 10
Avoid high-estrogen birth control pills, which reduce the valves' ability to close.
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