Don’t Let Winter Stop You from These Helpful Indoor Exercises for Varicose Veins
When you become less active, any discomfort associated with varicose veins can flare up. And being that the winter months are typically a time when people head indoors to get out of the cold, it’s also this time of year when this discomfort can become more intense. The good news is that there are many things that you can do to help manage such symptoms – even during the winter months. In this post, we’ll take a look at some exercises you can be doing, why exercise is important and procedures to eliminate varicose veins for good. Here’s a look:
Why Exercise is Good for Varicose Veins
Why is exercise so important for managing discomfort associated with varicose veins? There are a few key reasons. One, it helps improve circulation throughout your body. And two, it helps you properly manage your weight. Being that excess pressure or strain placed on the body is often a trigger for varicose vein development and discomfort, this last point is significant.
Exercises You Can Do Indoors During these Colder Months
So how do you stay active in the winter to manage discomfort from varicose veins? We’ve put together a list of exercises to help you do it:
- Cycling: This is a low-impact exercise that specifically works your lower body, which is where you’re the most likely to develop varicose veins. If you don’t have a gym membership and it’s too cold to ride your bike outdoors this winter, consider investing in a stationary bike for your home.
- Walking: Another low-impact exercise, never underestimate the benefits of walking. It isn’t just great for your varicose veins, but walking has been linked to improved sleep, elevated mood, boosted immunity and mental sharpness, and more. Aim to walk for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week to maximize the impact.
- Leg lifts: Lay on your side or on your back and slowly lift one or both legs up. Doing so helps give your legs and your core a nice workout.
- Lunges: This is another exercise that helps strengthen the legs. To add resistance, consider doing lunges with weights.
- Swimming: If you have access to a pool near where you live, consider getting a membership to use it. Swimming is one of the best low-impact exercises you can do. It works out not just the legs, but the entire body.
While the aforementioned exercises are all ideal to help manage any discomfort associated with varicose veins, there are also some exercises that you want to be sure to avoid. These include any type of strenuous activity, like weight lifting. Yoga, crunches and sit ups also aren’t typically suggested.
Treatment Options for Varicose Veins
If you want to do more than just manage varicose vein discomfort and are instead seeking a permanent fix, the good news is that there are several minimally invasive, effective vascular treatments. These include:
- Sclerotherapy: This involves injecting a solution or foam into the veins to close them off, re-routing blood flow to healthy veins.
- Microphlebectomy: This minimally invasive procedure works to remove damaged veins.
- Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT): This fast, outpatient procedure uses a laser to close off and shrink veins.
- ClosureFast: This procedure involves deploying radio frequency energy to the vein with the use of a catheter.
- Other effective procedures include VenaSeal, Veinwave and more.
Contact Us at Vein & Vascular
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