Center for Vein Restoration has instituted new guidelines for treating patients during the novel coronavirus outbreak, but you can relieve minor varicose vein discomfort at home.

Center for Vein Restoration has instituted new guidelines for treating patients during the novel coronavirus outbreak, but you can relieve minor varicose vein discomfort at home.

In an effort to stop the spread of novel coronavirus, many services deemed non-essential have been put on pause and people nationwide have been asked to shelter in place. Center for Vein Restoration, as an essential service provider, remains open for necessary medical services. More information about our COVID-19 response is available here, but in most cases, patients dealing with low-level chronic discomfort from their varicose veins will not be able to receive treatment for the time being.

Although there is no substitute for our minimally invasive procedures to eliminate varicose veins, you can take steps as you hunker down in your home to reduce any discomfort, swelling, and cramping. These methods can go a long way in lessening the symptoms of varicose veins and increasing your comfort during this time.

5 Ways to Care for Varicose Veins at Home

As you wait for medical treatment for your varicose veins, you can practice these six measures to relieve your discomfort. For most of these at-home care tips, all that’s required is a trip to your local drugstore or grocery store — just ensure you thoroughly wash your hands when you return home.

1. Keep Exercising. Your local gym has likely closed, and the prohibition against large gatherings has made participating in group sports impossible for the coming weeks. Now is the time to adjust your workout routine to incorporate solo, at-home, and outdoor activities. Walking and biking, for example, engage the calf muscles that work with the leg veins to push blood from the extremities up to the heart. Because varicose veins are caused by sluggish circulation in the veins, anything you can do to get the blood moving can help alleviate pain and swelling.
2. Watch Your Diet. It’s always important to maintain a healthy weight to prevent varicose veins, but it’s doubly important if you’re scaling back your exercise regimen. Avoid foods high in sodium which will increase swelling in the legs. To reduce water retention, try potassium-rich foods such as almonds, lentils, potatoes, salmon, tuna, and leafy vegetables. Colorful vegetables and fruits like spinach, peppers, broccoli, citrus fruits, and grapes contain flavonoids that boost circulation and reduce pressure in the blood vessels.
3. Buy Compression Stockings. Want to keep your blood circulating in the legs? Slip on a pair of compression stockings to gently squeeze the veins, helping them pump blood to the heart. A recent study determined that these socks do, in fact, ease aching and cramping in the legs. These highly elastic garments can be purchased from Center for Vein Restoration’s online compression stocking shop.
4. Elevate Your Legs. Elevating your legs several times a day is essential for maintaining proper circulation, especially if your work-at-home job requires you to sit at a desk. Propping your legs above your heart helps the veins battle the downward pressure of gravity and gets the blood moving in the right direction.
5. Massage Your Legs. A gentle massage of your legs nudges the blood along in the veins. Use an oil or moisturizer as you massage, but be careful not to press too hard on your veins. You don’t want to damage already-fragile veins.

Caring for Varicose Veins While Social Distancing

At Center for Vein Restoration, our staff of specialists remain available for virtual consultations. If your varicose veins are painful, our doctors will offer suggestions on how to relieve your discomfort during this time of social distancing. We have suspended elective cosmetic procedures, but are available for critical medical services such as treatment for deep vein thrombosis, wound care for venous ulcers, and other vascular treatments and diagnoses. Read about the services and the amended procedures we currently offer to our patients.