Are your varicose veins causing you pain? Try these at-home remedies to reduce discomfort.
According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, some 35 percent of Americans will develop varicose veins during their lifetime. Age, weight, heredity, pregnancy, and a sedentary lifestyle all play a role in deciding who is affected by these bulging ropes of blue and purple veins that show up on the legs and feet.
For most people, varicose veins are a cosmetic nuisance and don’t cause any noticeable discomfort. But for other varicose vein patients, the pain, swelling, throbbing, and itching of varicose veins makes everyday activities nearly unbearable and interferes with sleep. If you are one of the many people who have these symptoms, you can find relief with self-care remedies and lifestyle changes.
The circulatory system depends on arteries and veins to move blood from the heart to the extremities and back again. To do this, veins are equipped with small, one-way flaps, or valves, whose sole function is to push the blood back to the heart. Damaged or weakened valves cannot fight the downward gravity of the blood flow, which allows the blood to pool in the vein. The vein then extends from under the skin and becomes visible as a varicose vein. Sometimes, there may not be any visible signs of varicose veins, but the pain is apparent because the affected vein is deep within the leg.
In those cases, practicing some at-home care brings relief. Here are five steps to reduce your discomfort:
Whether painful or not, your varicose veins should be examined by a vein specialist to determine if you need treatment to improve your vein health and prevent more serious problems. While at-home remedies provide temporary relief, the only permanent fix for varicose veins is surgery. The vascular doctors at the Center for Vein Restoration will recommend either conservative treatment methods to manage discomfort, or suggest a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that permanently eliminates the visible signs and discomfort of varicose veins. Make your appointment today.