45. Ten Ways to Relieve Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are unsightly and uncomfortable. Veins bulge, throb, and feel heavy. The lower legs suffer the most. Sometimes the ankles may swell.
To relieve varicose veins:
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•Don’t cross your legs when sitting.
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•Keep your weight down.
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•Avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. If your job or hobby requires you to stand, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. Just wiggling your toes can help, too.
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•Wear elastic support stockings, as advised by your doctor.
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•Don’t wear clothing or undergarments that are tight or constrict your waist, groin, or legs.
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•Eat high-fiber foods, like bran cereals, beans, whole grain breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. These things promote regularity.
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•To prevent swelling, cut your salt intake.
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•Exercise regularly. Walking is a good choice. It improves leg and vein strength.
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•Exercise your legs. (From a sitting position, rotate your feet at the ankles, turning them first clockwise, then counterclockwise, using a circular motion. Next, extend your legs forward and point your toes to the ceiling, then the floor. Then, lift your feet off the floor and gently bend your legs back and forth at the knees.)
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•Elevate your legs when resting.
Varicose veins aren’t usually serious. If a rash or sores develop on the leg, contact your doctor. (See the discussion of phlebitis in Tip 71 in chapter 2, Major Medical Conditions: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment.)
