Varicose veins show up when your veins swell and enlarge. This happens when the tiny valves in the veins weaken, causing blood to pool in the veins. They mainly occur in the legs and can cause pain and discomfort in some patients. Some of the most common symptoms of varicose veins include the burning or throbbing sensation in the affected area, heavy feet, and swelling of the ankles and feet. Approximately 20% of all adults will have to deal with varicose veins at some point. Luckily, there are various home treatments you can take advantage of to relieve the symptoms and improve your condition. This article looks at some of the most effective home remedies for varicose veins. If they do not help with your symptoms, make sure you see Dr. Danny Harrison, a pain specialist based in Bowling Green, KY.
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Exercise
Exercising regularly can help improve blood circulation in your legs, which helps push the blood that pools in the affected veins. Exercise can also help reduce your blood pressure, one of the main contributing factors to varicose veins. Additionally, low-impact exercises can work the calf muscles without straining them excessively. Some of the most effective low-impact exercises include walking, jogging, yoga and cycling.
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Compression Stockings
You can buy compression stockings over the counter, and wearing them applies pressure to the legs. This can help the veins and muscles move blood back to the heart instead of it pooling in the legs. According to various studies conducted regarding the efficacy of compression stockings in treating varicose veins, patients that used knee-high compression stockings over one week, with a pressure ranging between 18 and 21 mmHg, noticed a reduction in the pain caused by varicose veins.
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Dietary Changes
Foods with a lot of salt or sodium cause the body to retain too much water. You can reduce your body’s water retention ability by lowering your salt intake. Food rich in potassium can also help reduce water retention. Some foods with high potassium levels include pistachio nuts and almonds, white beans and lentils, leafy vegetables, and fish such as tuna and salmon.
Foods rich in fiber help with bowel movements to prevent constipation, which can benefit people with varicose veins, as straining can worsen damaged valves. If you are overweight, you can treat your varicose veins by losing some extra pounds since that reduces the pressure on veins.
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Elevate Your Legs
Ideally, you should elevate your legs above or at the same level as your heart to help enhance circulation. Disc underneath the pressure in the leg veins and cancel out the effect of gravity, enabling the blood to flow smoothly back to your heart. You should consider elevating your legs every time you plan on sitting down for a long time, either while working or resting.
To summarize, varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins caused by damaged valves. You can treat varicose veins at home by exercising regularly and wearing compression stockings. Dietary changes and elevating your legs when sitting down for extended periods can also help reduce the effects of varicose veins. If none of the home remedies work, you should consider visiting a vein specialist.
Johnson