An estimated 40 million Americans have varicose veins, swollen and enlarged veins that can be lumpy or twisted in appearance. The majority of people with varicose veins are over 50 – but unfortunately, more and more young people are also developing the condition. Varicose veins are largely not harmful, but can cause discomfort and pain if left unchecked, including aching, burning, muscle cramp, and throbbing in the area. This pain is similar to some neuropathies, but fortunately, you don’t have to turn to invasive surgery or hospital treatments to help your varicose veins. Below are a few ways to prevent and ameliorate them.
Why Varicose Vein Patients Are Getting Younger
Varicose veins are mostly associated with the elderly, but younger people with the condition are becoming more common. The main risk factor for varicose veins is heredity: if your parents had (or have) varicose veins, you’re more likely to have them yourself. On top of that, though,standing for extended periods of time- a full work day, for example – can increase your risk of varicose veins because it increases the pressure on your legs, the most common place to have varicose veins. As young adults get jobs – genera
lly in retail or hospitality – they spend more time on their feet and subject their veins to more stress. Having a very sedentary job or lifestyle can also be a risk factor for varicose veins: lack of pressure on your veins makes them less able to effectively deal with pressure when it is applied. So varicose veins, while still largely affecting people over 50, are creeping into young adults’ lives, too.
Exercising Attacks Varicose Veins At The Root
Since one cause of varicose veins is spending too much time in a single position, it makes sense that regular exercise would help prevent and ameliorate them. While there’s no surefire way to prevent varicose veins, daily exercise decreases your risk. If you already have varicose veins, daily exercise can reduce their symptoms and even help to alleviate the pressure your veins are responding to. Just half an hour of light to moderate exercise – walking, bicycling, or jogging – can help decrease any pain you have as a result of varicose veins as well as help your body to better circulate blood. Since exercise targets the cause of varicose veins, it’s one of the best ways to help them get better.
Make Changes To Your Diet
While weight can impact varicose veins – obese people are at higher risk – the most important thing, not just for this condition, but for your whole life is your health. That means you should try to eat a healthy, varied diet. Luckily, there are some foods you can eat to discourage and ameliorate varicose veins. The best foods for varicose veins are those high in the flavonoid rutin, which is anti-inflammatory, protective of blood vessels, and protects against blood clots. These foods include apple, buckwheat, grapes, cherries, and blackberries. Asparagus, watercress, and beets all also help to protect capillaries and blood vessels. That doesn’t mean you have to eat these every day – but adding some to your weekly shopping list or working them into your lunches and dinners can help lessen your varicose vein-related pain and start to heal them.
As with any ailment, if your condition gets worse or you’re worried about any implications, contact your doctor. Diet and exercise aren’t cure-all’s, and if your varicose veins are severe, you may want to consider surgical or other medical procedures to help them. But for the average case of varicose veins, these tips will help a lot.
