As you age, there are more chances of developing varicose veins. This vein problem often appears on the legs, which is why most people do not seem to notice they have it.
However, according to a study from the National Health Service in Scotland, varicose veins are so common that it affects three out of ten adults, and most of them are women. The reason why females are more affected is because of the hormones that they produce. Those hormones could cause disturbance to the control movement of blood in the veins. As such, women become more susceptible to varicose veins.
That is why if you are in that category, you should know that you are more at risk of developing varicose veins. Therefore, you should be careful of what you do since it can make things worse.
How worse exactly?
When varicose veins worsen, they start to affect the deep veins. While there is not so much research that would prove this claim, one study shows that those who have varicose veins are five times more at risk of having deep vein thrombosis.
Also, another thing you should know is that deep vein thrombosis is common in Singapore. According to a comparative study, 15.8% of 10,000 patients have this condition. That is one more reason why you should take good care of yourself.
To prevent this from happening, you should consider treating your varicose veins. Well, in case you are too shy to see a vein doctor to get treated, you can treat this vein problem at home. Here is a list of what you need to do.
EXERCISE MORE.
Besides age and gender, weight is also one of the risk factors for varicose veins. That is why every vein doctor asks their patients to lose some weight. Doing so would help reduce the pressure the vein experiences because of the excessive weight of the body. Also, exercising promotes better blood circulation, which helps unclog the blood in the veins.
Just in case you have no idea what exercise you should do, consider the following activities.
- Bicycling
- Swimming
- Walking
- Yoga
CHANGE YOUR DIET.
As mentioned above, weight has a tremendous influence on developing varicose veins. Besides working some exercise, you should consider changing your diet. If you do so, you would lose more weight and at a much faster pace.
To help you with your diet, here are the foods you can eat.
- Potatoes.
- Almonds and pistachios.
- Leafy vegetables.
- White meat, such as chicken, salmon, and tuna.
- Oats, wheat, and flaxseed.
Just make sure to eat these foods above moderately. Otherwise, you would gain weight, and that would put more pressure and strain on your legs. As a result, your varicose veins will get worse.
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES AND SHOES.
Apart from your weight, you also have to be mindful of what you wear. Note that tight-fitting clothes restrict blood flow, and that can worsen varicose veins. That is why if you have this vein problem, consider wearing loose-fitting clothes, especially around the legs.
The same notion applies to footwear. You should know that wearing high heels can make your varicose veins worse. It can happen since they put too much pressure on your legs. Therefore, try not to wear shoes with heels, and consider flat shoes instead.
AVOID THE SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE.
As work from home continues, you become less active. Since you no longer walk or travel to work, the blood flow around your legs becomes irregular. As a result, you are more likely to develop varicose veins.
To prevent that, consider taking a break in between your work. Try walking around your house for ten to fifteen minutes. Doing so would help improve your blood circulation and lowers the chance of getting this vein problem,
ELEVATE YOUR LEGS.
This home remedy might sound absurd, but it works. By elevating your legs, the blood circulation around them improves. As such, you become less susceptible to varicose veins.
For better results, consider massaging your legs before elevating them. Doing so would help the blood circulate more smoothly.
Make sure to do this routine at least four times a day if you want to see improvement.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF NONE OF THESE WORKS?
If nothing changes after doing all of these home remedies, that means the condition of your varicose veins is worse than expected. Note that even if this vein problem is not exactly life-threatening, there are complications if left untreated. One of which is bleeding, blood clots, and skin ulcers.
To not experience either one of those complications, make sure to visit a vein clinic in Singapore and consult a vein doctor.
Do you think you need to see a vein doctor right now? If so, then go to Cheng SC Veins and Endovascular. This clinic specialises in vein problems, which means they have several practitioners who can treat you!