Varicose veins and spider veins are not always preventable,

but you can significantly reduce your chances of

developing them, or improve the appearance

and alleviate discomfort of the ones you already have

with a few simple lifestyle and nutritional changes.

– Dr. St. George

Excessive weight puts a real strain on your legs, which weakens the walls of your veins. As a result, the veins lose their elasticity, widen and cause the valves responsible for preventing the backflow of blood to separate. Blood continues to enter your veins, but with nowhere to go, it pools backward, causing veins to bulge.

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Lose the Extra Pounds

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Get Moving

Daily exercise that strengthens our legs and veins will help keep the blood pumping. So long as it’s on the move, blood won’t pool backwards and cause those tell-tale bulging veins. Walk, run, dance, swim or climb for increased strength and improved blood circulation.

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Eat Up

Skip the fattening foods. Instead, load up on low-sodium, high-fiber choices that will help keep you maintain a healthy weight and avoid constipation, which can contribute to varicose and spider veins. Foods containing vitamins C, E, B6 and B12, or copper, fiber and bioflavonoids help keep the vein walls strong and keep blood pumping efficiently through the body.

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Slather It On

Never leave home without a good dousing of your skin with a high-SPF sunscreen. The sun’s powerful rays can weaken your skin’s upper layers, sapping moisture and diminishing elasticity. As a result, skin and veins just below the skin’s surface are unable to flex and move properly, and thus, unable to keep blood flowing. Plus, frequent exposure to high temperatures can cause blood vessels to expand, increasing stress on vein valves and causing blood to pool.

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Nix the Nicotine Habit

Among the top ways to prevent or improve varicose veins is to nix your cigarette habit. Everyone knows that smoking can damage your lungs and heart. But nicotine’s affect on your blood vessels is less known. The fact is that the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke affects every blood vessel in your body, boosting your risk of developing varicose veins, blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Yet, upwards of 45.3 million American adults smoke cigarettes daily.

TOP WAYS TO PREVENT VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS Wear Compression Hose

Compression hose help relieve symptoms and slow the pro-gress of varicose veins. Compression hose are great for pre-vention and general maintenance; especially if you are prone to venous insufficiency. They improve circulation and are a mainstay of treatment for varicose veins that are causing symptoms. It is important to put them on consistently first thing in the morning, and practice this daily, making adjustments for proper fitting as you go along. It is also important that they are a good fit for your legs or they could make problems worse. The cost of the stockings can range between $50 and $125, and there is a bit of a learning curve when they are first used. A pair of compression hose usually needs to be replaced after 4 to 6 months of regular use. After a few weeks of consistent use, patients normally adjust fairly well to the stockings and get a good deal of benefit from them.

www.stjohnsvein.com/personal-vein-health-assessment/

If you already have varicose veins or spider veins, Jacksonville’s St. Johns Vein Center

can help restore your legs’ smooth, healthy look.

Call 877-640-VEIN (8346)or use our convenient online form

to schedule a complimentary vein screening.

Take Our

FREE

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR VARICOSE VEINS?