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How to Prevent Varicose Veins from Developing

Home > How to Prevent Varicose Veins from Developing

    Updated on May 23, 2023 by Dr. Jonathan Arad (Vein Doctor) of Vein Care Center

    Varicose veins are a common vein problem that causes enlarged and twisted veins. They often occur in the legs and can cause pain, swelling, itching, stinging, or soreness. Varicose veins usually affect people over the age of 40. However, anyone can get varicose veins if they have a family history or medical condition such as obesity or high blood pressure.

    So how can you prevent varicose veins from developing? The best way to avoid these unwanted veins is to keep moving around when possible and not staying stagnant. Varicose veins are usually caused by pressure on your veins so by taking away pressure from them, you decrease the likelihood of varicose veins from developing.

    Are Varicose Veins Preventable?

    A varicose vein is preventable especially if you take early precautions against it. Even if you don’t have any risk factors for varicose veins, it’s still possible to develop them. However, by taking some preventative measures and giving your body a chance to rest from long periods of standing or other repetitive movements, you can greatly reduce your chances of developing this condition.

    Varicose veins are usually caused by a combination of factors which include the following:

    • Smoking
    • Lack of exercise or movement
    • Obesity
    • Pregnancy

    Tips on How to Prevent Varicose Veins

    If you have spider veins visible throughout your body, here are some tips on how to prevent their progression:

    1) Don’t Just Sit Down in One Position

    Sitting for long periods of time is a major risk factor for varicose veins, but so is standing for too long. This means you should avoid sitting in one position for too long and keep moving around as much as possible.

    If you sit down, make sure to use a chair that supports your legs and feet properly. You can also use a footstool to help distribute pressure evenly across your legs and you should also avoid crossing your legs or ankles for too much.

    2) Be More Active Through The Day

    Get up and move around. The best way to avoid developing these unwanted spider veins, make sure you are active throughout the day. If you stay at home or work in the office for the majority of the day, walk around the house or do some light stretching just to make sure the blood is flowing.

    3) Exercise

    Exercise can do wonders for your body, and varicose veins are no exception. Exercise can help improve circulation, reduce stress, and even help with sleep. All of these benefits will also contribute to overall health and wellness. In addition to improving circulation, regular exercise can also burn off fat which may be contributing to your varicose veins in the first place

    4) Maintain a Healthy Weight to Avoid High Blood Pressure

    One of the most important things you can do to reduce the risk of varicose veins is to maintain a healthy weight. The presence of excess body fat can cause your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, which increases the likelihood that you’ll develop varicose veins. If you’re overweight, try exercising regularly and following a diet that limits your caloric intake.

    5) Consider Wearing Stockings

    Supportive stockings can help reduce swelling and prevent varicose veins by boosting the circulation in your legs. You can try wearing these stockings during long periods of standing or sitting, but don’t wear them while sleeping as they may cause your feet to swell. However, if you’re pregnant, consider wearing a support hose as well. Pregnancy-related swelling can put extra pressure on blood vessels that are already weakened by varicose veins.

    6) Elevate Your Legs When Sitting or Laying Down

    Elevate your legs when sitting or laying down. Placing a pillow under the feet while sitting can help reduce the pressure on varicose veins by raising the legs above heart level. Another thing you can try is to elevate your legs with an ice pack on the area with swollen veins at least three times a day.

    7) Keep Yourself Hydrated Throughout The Day

    It’s important to drink enough water each day. When you’re dehydrated, your veins have to work harder to push blood through them and can become damaged over time. For most healthy adults, drinking somewhere between six and eight glasses of water a day is enough. The best way to stay hydrated is by drinking small amounts throughout the day instead of guzzling down a lot in one sitting. If you’re worried about how much liquid you’re consuming, try using a reusable water bottle that helps keep track of how much fluid you’ve had.

    Factors for Acquiring Varicose Veins

    There are many factors that can cause varicose veins. Here are the most common ones:

    • Age. As you grow older, your vein walls become less elastic and more likely to bulge or tear. In fact, the risk of developing varicose veins increases with age, especially after the age of 50. Women are also more likely to develop varicose veins than men.
    • Pregnancy. During pregnancy, your uterus grows and puts pressure on your leg veins. This can cause them to become swollen and weaken over time. Pregnancy is the most common cause of varicose veins. During this time, the vein walls stretch and weaken. As a result, the vein valves do not work as well.
    • Weight. If you have excess weight or are obese, this can cause additional pressure on your legs’ veins. Losing weight is an effective way to reduce the risk of varicose veins. Excess weight can put extra pressure on the veins in your legs, and this can lead to problems like varicose veins in some people. By shedding the extra pounds, this may help prevent varicose veins from developing or getting worse.
    • Lifestyle choices. Smoking, not eating right, and being sedentary all increase the risk of developing varicose veins in the legs. Smoking damages the walls of blood vessels, which can cause them to weaken, leak, or even collapse.

    People who sit at desks all day tend not only to have weak leg muscles but also to have an increased risk of developing more superficial varicose veins since their legs are rarely used for exercise during this time period.

    Reliable Interventional Treatments from Vein Care Center

    If you’re looking for a reliable interventional treatment to help prevent varicose veins, look no further than Vein Care Center. Our team of experienced vein specialists uses specialized treatments to help you fight against your unwanted veins.

    1) Endovenous Laser Treatment

    Endovenous laser treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to treat varicose veins. A small incision is made in the skin, then the vein is accessed and treated with the laser inside of it. The vein is sealed off and blood flow is diverted away from it.

    2) Sclerotherapy

    Sclerotherapy is a procedure that involves injecting a solution into the vein. The solution causes the vein to shrink and eventually disappear. The specialized solution can be injected into the affected spider vein using either a needle or tube. The method you choose depends on your physician’s preference and your situation.

    For example, if you have small spider veins, it may be easier for your doctor to inject them with a needle rather than a larger tube. Injecting with a needle takes less time and requires little recovery time, but there’s also less risk of infection because the area around each injection point isn’t punctured more than once.

    3) Ambulatory Phlebectomy

    Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that requires little downtime and can be performed in an outpatient setting. It’s done under local anesthesia, meaning you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. The bulging veins are then removed by your doctor segment by segment.

    With that, you’ll be able to go home the same day and will only have to take it easy for a few days. The best part is you’ll likely experience minimal pain afterward and be able to resume your normal activities soon enough.

    4) Echosclerotherapy

    Echosclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasound to treat varicose veins. It’s done by injecting a foam solution into the vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut. The veins are then reabsorbed by your body. This procedure is typically done under local anesthesia and takes about an hour to complete.

    Some benefits of echo sclerotherapy include immediate relief from symptoms such as pain, swelling, and heaviness in your legs. No sutures or incisions are required and recovery time is usually rapid with little or no downtime needed.

    Prevent and Treat Unwanted Varicose Veins at Vein Care Center

    Varicose veins can be easily treated even before they develop. These veins normally protrude at certain parts of your body caused by different factors such as your lifestyle, weight, and age. Fortunately, Vein Care Center can help you get rid of these veins and help make you feel confident again.

    At Vein Care Center, our team of specialists can help provide the right and most effective vein treatment for you depending on your needs. If you want to get rid of your unwanted veins and improve your vein health, book an appointment with us today.

    Dr. Jonathan Arad has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.