The “Do’s & Don’ts” for Healthy Legs     

By Guest Author, Kunal Patal

Varicose veins are caused due to dysfunctional valves and the factors that increase the risk of varicose veins include aging, genetics, obesity, hormonal changes, pregnancy, and occupations that require standing for prolonged periods of time.

Regardless of the reason, if left untreated, varicose veins can lead to painful ulcers, bleeding, infections, and serious complications. So, if you’ve been living with varicose veins, here are Four Do’s and Four Don’ts for varicose veins.  

The Following is a List of the “Do’s”

• Do Exercise to Stay Fit and Active

Regular exercising improves blood flow, keeps you active, and strengthens your legs. You can walk, jog, run, or dance depending on your age, overall health, and what you enjoy. Exercising will also keep your weight under control and reduce the risk of injury, infection, and bleeding due to additional pressure.

• Do Wear Compression Socks for Varicose Veins to Boost Blood Circulation

Wearing compression socks helps improve the circulation of blood. Unlike regular socks that block blood flow, compression socks are designed to apply gentle pressure on your legs. This pressure graduates upward from the foot to help increase blood circulation and decreases the expansion of veins.

• Do Take Breaks to Relieve the Pressure on Your Legs

If you are standing for prolonged hours, keep shifting the weight from one leg to another every few minutes. And, if you are sitting at a work desk for hours together, take a break every half an hour to stand up and move around.     

• Do Maintain a Healthy Diet to Avoid Swelling

A balanced diet that is rich in fibre, Vitamin C, flavonoids and antioxidants reduces the risk of blood clot in foot considerably. And if you want to keep your legs healthy, avoid a diet that includes too much salt or sugar because it is problematic for your veins. So, follow a low-salt diet that is also sugar-free and see your condition improve over time. 

The Following is a List of  the “Don’ts”

• Don’t Sit or Stand in the Same Place for Longer

Don’t stand in the same spot for long periods as it lowers the flow of blood in your legs. While sitting, keep your legs elevated or in resting position to reduce the risk of blood clot in foot.  

• Don’t Wear High Heels

Choose flat or low-heeled shoes and stay away from high heels. Heels exert extra strain on your calf muscles and this can further aggravate varicose veins.

• Don’t Cross Your Legs

Do not cross your legs when you are sitting as it lowers the flow of blood and makes your condition worse. When resting, keep your legs elevated or on a pillow to increase the flow of blood in the extremities.

• Don’t Smoke

Smoking invites a slew of health problems and your veins are no exception. The toxic chemicals in cigarettes cause your blood to thicken over time.

They also start losing oxygen due to which the blood starts flowing slowly while the nicotine in the cigarettes hardens your arteries. T

his can lead to the formation of a blood clot in foot so if you want to avoid all of these problems, toss away that pack of cigarettes.  

The Bottom Line

The longer you leave varicose veins untreated, the higher is the risk of developing serious health problems. So don’t wait long enough to develop deep vein thrombosis because you wouldn’t want to deal with this debilitating condition. Follow these varicose veins do’s and don’ts to skip all these worries and unnecessary stress and get your health back on track by treating your vein problems early on.