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Varicose Veins
When I was young, my mother taught me to cross my legs while wearing a dress. It was a modesty issue. Years have passed and I still have the habit of crossing my legs. The problem now is this habit is one of the worst things I can do for my legs – especially when sitting down, which I do a lot when writing.
Varicose Vein Tips:
• Regular exercise helps in the continuous flow of the blood. Walking is good for the body and the mind.
• Watch your weight. More weight means more of a burden on the legs.
• If your job requires a lot of standing in one place, make a point of shifting your weight often from one foot to the other.
• Elastic support hose are often medically recommended. Get your doctor’s opinion on support hose during your next office visit.
• Don’t wear tight clothing around your waist, groin, and leg area.
• Eat foods high in fiber. High-fiber foods help with constipation that can contribute to varicose veins.
• Salt can be a factor in swelling of the body. Reduce your salt intake.
• Find time to exercise your legs even when sitting; it can help with blood circulation.
• Leg elevation at the end of the day is highly recommended. Prop your feet on a chair or on the wall at home when you watch TV or a few minutes before you go to sleep.
• Long trips can constrict and numb the legs and feet. If possible, get up and move about every 30 minutes to relax and stretch the legs. Leg stretches, and feet and ankle rotation can provide some pain relief.
• Choose a seat closest to an exit door when attending long conferences and meetings. This way, you can easily slip out and stretch your legs every fifteen to thirty minutes.
Many factors contributing to varicose veins include, but are not limited to: Frequently sitting or standing for long periods of time, age, obesity, pregnancy, constipation, and even improper posture.
As always, the adage that prevention is better than cure is very true. Although major treatments and operations are not exactly needed in curing varicose veins, the pain could be uncomfortable, not to mention unsightly especially for a woman. There are dermatological ways to remove varicose veins but, if you can help it, prevent it from appearing on your body parts by doing the self-help tips that are stated above.
Reference: US Health and Human Services – Womenshealth.gov. Read article in its entirety “Varicose Veins and Spider Veins” 10/22/2009
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