Seven tips for preventing varicose veins
As with many other conditions, your lifestyle plays an important role in preventing varicose veins. We offer you a few simple tips on how to do something for your health.
- Movement: Go for walks, run, cycle or swim. Movement supports the action of the muscle pump in your lower limbs and thus blood circulation.
- Diet: Make sure you get enough vitamins C and E, fibre, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
- Feet up: Find a few moments during the day and sit with your legs elevated. This supports blood circulation in the lower limbs.
- Do not restrict blood circulation: Avoid standing or sitting for long periods, crossing your legs, and wearing overly tight trousers or high heels.
- Cold shower: Treat your legs to a cold shower or cold compresses.
- Exercise: Try rotating your ankles in both directions, stretching and curling your toes and whole insteps, pulling your bent legs towards your chest and then straightening them, or “cycling” while lying on your back. You can do some of these exercises even in the office or waiting room.
- Support stockings: Wear support stockings or knee-highs. Today you can no longer tell quality support hosiery from ordinary stockings at first glance and the choice is wide. Always make sure, however, that the model you choose has bands or lace that do not constrict, do not cause pressure marks and do not restrict blood circulation.