Improving Vein Health in the New Year

With a new year dawning, being healthier should be on the top of everyone’s resolution list. An estimated 35 percent of the population suffers from varicose veins, so maybe that’s an excellent place to start.

Most people associate varicose veins with those blue and purple engorged veins you can see in the legs. The problem is deeper than what you can see. Many people have varicose veins under the tissue and not visible from the skin surface. That means you may have them and not realize it. What can you do this year to improve the health of your veins?

Manage Your Blood Pressure

Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for many health problems, including varicose veins. Blood pressure is the measure of how hard blood hits the walls of the blood vessels. Varicose veins occur when there is damage to the valves on those walls.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is called the silent killer, because you can have it and not know it. That is why you should plan to have your blood pressure checked regularly, either as part of your regular check-up or on your own with a home blood pressure device.

Avoid purchasing processed foods like soups. If you do, check the label to see how much sodium they have in them. A better approach is to make your soup at home using a slow cooker so that you can control the ingredients and the sodium level.

Get Colorful

Colorful foods contain chemical elements in the pigment that can decrease inflammation and make vein walls stronger. Look to make your plates as colorful as possible with fresh foods such as:

Stay away from canned fruit and juice that may have excess sugar, and head for your grocery store’s fresh produce department instead.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking water ensures you stay hydrated, which can help alleviate some of the symptoms of varicose veins—oranges, berries, lemons — they all add flavor to a glass of water.

Exercise Regularly

Add to all these suggestions getting regular exercise, both cardio and strength training. Staying active reduces your risk of vascular conditions like hypertension, peripheral artery disease, and varicose veins. Exercise can be anything from a daily walk to jogging to bike riding — any activity that you enjoy and that gets your heart beating. Also, resolve to get up and move throughout the day. Too many people sit behind a desk all day for work and then sit on the couch in the evening.
 
 
To learn more about what you can do to support your vein health, or if you have varicose or spider veins, give Vanishing Veins Northwest a call today at 425.277.8346.