WHAT GOES DOWN
must come up.
OK, that’s not how the saying
goes, but it’s how blood is supposed
to circulate through your legs. When
the system malfunctions, it can produce
unsightly and painful varicose veins.
A LEAKY VALVE
Your heart pumps oxygen—and nutrient-
rich blood—down to your legs and feet.
Ten your leg muscles pump the blood
back to your heart. Te veins in your legs
have one-way faps (valves) that work
against gravity to keep blood fowing up
to your heart rather than back down your
legs.
If these valves become weak, blood can
leak down and pool in the veins, causing
them to swell and bulge. Tese ropy, twisted
blood vessels, otherwise known as vari-
cose veins, are often visible just below the
surface of the skin. Tey are most common
in legs but can occur in other parts of the
body.
In addition to swelling in the legs,
varicose veins can cause rashes or
itchiness, numbness or heavi-
ness and aching, throbbing or
cramping.
Spider veins also can
be caused by
weak valves or sun exposure but are smaller
and less serious than varicose veins. Tey are
usually red or blue and appear weblike, often
on the legs or face. Wearing sunscreen may help
reduce the risk of developing spider veins.
Increasing age, being overweight or obese,
hormonal changes, pregnancy, and a sedentary
lifestyle can all increase your chances of develop-
ing spider or varicose veins. So can working at a
job where you spend a lot of time on your feet.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
While you can’t prevent all varicose or spider
veins, there are steps you can take to reduce
your chances of developing them:
➜
➜
Wear graduated-compression support
stockings.
➜
➜
Exercise regularly to improve the strength
and circulation in your legs and veins.
➜
➜
Maintain a healthy weight to avoid putting
too much pressure on your legs.
➜
➜
Take breaks if you have to stand or sit for
long periods of time.
➜
➜
Elevate your legs when resting.
➜
➜
Avoid tight clothing, especially around your
legs, groin and waist.
➜
➜
Eat a low-salt, high-fber diet to help avoid
swelling and constipation.
➜
➜
Don’t wear high-heeled shoes for long peri-
ods of time.
According to the National Institutes of
Health, these lifestyle changes may also help re-
lieve discomfort from spider and varicose veins
and are usually the frst treatment for them.
6
Health Scene • www.bmhsc.org
Take
steps
toward healthier veins
SPIDER AND VARICOSE VEINS