There are some steps you can take for relieving painful varicose veins and their symptoms.
Varicose veins are a condition many attributes to the aging process. Whether the swollen vessels are due to the passage of time or another factor, there is no doubt varicose veins can be both unsightly and painful. While medical treatment is the only way to completely eliminate these damaged veins, there are some steps you can take to relieve their painful symptoms.
Work Your Calf Muscles
Your lower leg veins don’t get much help to push blood back up the body to the heart. Their primary assistance comes from flexing the calf muscles, which moves blood through the vessels. You can get the flexing action you need with daily exercise like walking or swimming. If you are stuck behind a desk or on a long plane ride, you can also perform calf raises and flexes right from your chair throughout the day.
Elevate Your Legs
When you have the chance, get your legs up to give them a break from working against gravity. Prop them up on a few pillows to raise them higher than the heart to reap the greatest benefit. When the pressure on the vessels eases up, the symptoms are likely to subside as well.
Watch the Strain
While exercise can be beneficial for varicose veins, there are certain types of activity that might exacerbate your symptoms rather than improve them. Lifting heavy objects put undue strain on your vessels, especially if you hold your breath and strain or bear down. This applies to heavy lifting on the job, at home or at the gym in the form of high-intensity weight training. Exhaling while lifting relieves the pressure in the veins.
Topical Relief
While there is no scientific evidence to support these claims, some varicose vein sufferers claim to have found relief with topical application of substances like castor oil, witch hazel or olive oil. The action of massaging these substances into the skin will also help to relieve painful pressure and symptoms.
Dress for Comfort
The clothes you wear can have an impact on your varicose veins. Clothing that fits tight around the midsection puts additional stress on those hard working vessels. At the same time, wearing high heels prevents your calf muscles from flexing and giving those veins a helping hand. Most hosiery and socks are held up by a tighter band at the top. This limits the ability of your veins and lymphatics from getting the fluid out of the legs. Add compression stockings to your daily wardrobe. This provides a gradient of pressure from highest at the ankle and lower at the calf that helps squeeze blood and fluid up and out of your legs. At Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, we offer a variety of styles for both men and women to fit every occasion from sporting activities to dress occasions. Call our office to purchase your compression socks.
While these steps assist in relieving painful varicose veins, they will not eliminate the vessels entirely. At Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, we can help you eradicate those painful veins for good, without a major disruption to your daily routine. To learn more, contact Vein Specialists of the Carolinas in Charlotte at 704-544-5245 or in Gastonia at 704-861-2072.