4 Strategies for Keeping Varicose Veins At Bay in the New Year

It’s no mystery that prevention is the best way to manage your health, and this applies to more serious issues like cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as more minor issues, including vein issues like varicose and spider veins.

The reality is that 23% of adults in the United States develop varicose veins, so they’re incredibly common. Though it might be comforting to know you aren’t alone, maybe you don’t want to be part of this group in the first place. Or, perhaps we’ve treated some of your varicose veins and you want to prevent any more from popping up.

With prevention in mind, Dr. Satjit Bhusri and the team at The Upper East Side Vein Institute want to provide a few great strategies for preventing varicose veins that you can practice in the new year and beyond.

1. Get those calf muscles working

We often assume that our circulatory system is simply made up of a heart and an extensive network of blood vessels. Although this is the foundation, your cardiovascular system often enlists help from other places to help keep your blood flowing.

This is true of your legs. Since the blood vessels in your lower legs must push blood all the way back to your heart, and fight gravity along the way, they rely on strong calf muscles to help get the job done. As these muscles contract, they squeeze the veins in your leg, helping to push blood back up toward your heart. As a result, these muscles can prevent blood from pooling, engorging a vein, and creating a varicose vein.

So, in the new year, you can help prevent varicose veins by making sure your calves are strong — simply walking a lot can help and throwing in some calf raises, too.

2. Use compression

If you’ve already had varicose veins or your risks for varicose veins are heightened because of certain conditions, such as pregnancy, it’s a good practice to wear compression socks or stockings.

Compression socks work a lot like how we just described calf muscles — the extra external pressure helps to keep the blood from pooling in your leg veins.

Add compression socks and stockings to your holiday wish list and wear them as often as you can in the new year.

3. Elevation can help

If you’re pregnant or you stand a good deal during the day, the aforementioned compression socks are helpful, but it’s even better to periodically elevate your legs. So, during your break or when you get home, sit down and raise those legs, which will lighten the workload in your veins considerably.

4. Lose weight

We’re going to close out with something that tops many new year’s resolution lists: weight loss. Carrying excess weight can increase your risks for varicose veins, so you can add this to the long list of reasons why it’s a good idea to shed the weight.

With a little effort, you can make effective steps toward preventing varicose veins. Should they appear despite your best efforts, we’ve got you covered with an impressive lineup of effective leg vein treatments.

If you want to learn more about preventing varicose veins, we invite you to call our New York City office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 212-752-3464. You can also schedule an appointment online by clicking here.