Varicose veins are a painful venous disease that impacts 23% of all adults in the United States. The enlarged, rope-like veins occur beneath the skin, typically in the legs and feet, and are caused by malfunctioning valves that are unable to properly pump blood back to your heart.
If you’ve been struggling with aches, cramps, and swelling due to varicose veins, we feel your pain! Check out these four quick tips for relieving vein inflammation and get some relief ASAP!
Elevate your legs
Resting your legs above your heart will help ease the flow of blood in your lower body and give some relief from those pesky varicose veins. You can stack your feet on some pillows or assume the yoga pose, legs up the wall. Stay here for about 15 minutes and that should help reduce the swelling and discomfort.
Stretch it out
Gently exercising and stretching your legs, particularly your calf muscles, throughout the day can help alleviate symptoms of vein inflammation. Flex your feet, bend your knees, and try to switch up your position (standing or sitting) every 30 minutes or so. Remember to also stay hydrated to support healthy blood circulation.
Cool as a cucumber
Soaking your legs in cold water can help the blood vessels shrink and ease the swelling and heaviness of leg cramps. Hot water, on the other hand, can just make your symptoms worse, so you may want to avoid hot tubs and baths for the time being.
Pain prevention
There are also ways you can be proactive and guard against your symptoms before they start to harass you. Compression socks are a great resource for controlling vein inflammation, and using them in the morning before you start walking around is the best way to mitigate symptoms. Wearing comfortable shoes and breathable clothing that doesn’t restrict blood flow is also key to warding off pain and swelling.
Varicose veins are a pain, but you don’t have to be in pain because of them! By using elevation, stretching, cold water, and compression socks, you can stave off the swelling and pain and get back to your normal daily activities.
If you are ready to take care of your varicose veins for good, there are great treatment options available. Click here to schedule a consultation with one of our veins experts.
