How To Care for Your Varicose Veins in the Winter
Your veins struggle in the wintertime too. As you move less and curl up with a cozy blanket more, your veins suffer from additional strain. Varicose veins can worsen, and new ones are likely to form during this time.
Winter often brings on the aches and pains of the body trying to adapt to the weather changes. The cold and increased darkness tends to lower moods as we tilt further away from the sun. While there are some people who relish the cold, most have to fight, feeling miserable.
Tips for Varicose Vein Care in the Winter
You don’t have to be a victim of the winter weather! There are things you can do to push back and avoid the additional strain that will worsen your varicose veins. Understanding how cold weather worsens varicose veins is important so you can combat the issues and support your vein health.
How Wintertime Weather Affects Varicose Veins
Understanding what impacts vein health during the winter can help you avoid some of the issues that will lead to more varicose vein problems.
Temperature changes can cause veins to constrict, which puts more pressure on the veins.
Atmospheric pressure drops and can cause your circulatory to be inefficient.
Reduced activity level is common with cold weather, but inactivity puts more pressure on the veins.
Increased weight from eating more during cold months will put more pressure on veins.
Steps You Can Take to Ensure Your Comfort
Varicose veins occur when they are strained and fail. In order to avoid getting new varicose veins, you have to adjust to treat your veins with care. Now that you know the common causes of varicose veins in the winter, here are some important ways to respond.
Exercise more: It’s best to aim to work out at least five times a week. Gentle workouts are best for varicose veins. So, Mild to moderate movement is best to get your heart rate up and circulation working for you. Spending just 30 minutes a day on focused movements, such as yoga or aerobics, can make a big difference.
Stretch morning and night: Stretching is also important during these colder months. Your body will want to constrict and tighten. Gentle stretches help relax those tight areas, reducing the chance of injury and improving circulation.
Eat empowering foods: Eating well is a key part of health during the winter. You will be tempted to indulge in comfort foods and holiday meals, but don’t lose sight of your health goals. Focus on eating nutritious foods and reducing foods high in sugar, salt and carbs. You don’t have to be strict, but be mindful of what you are eating and lower the portions of food that don’t offer anything valuable to your body.
Drink more water: When it’s hot in the summer months, you probably tend to drink more water. During the winter, you need to focus on increasing your water intake. Dehydration can cause excess constriction and increase strain on the veins. More water will keep your body hydrated and improve all of your systems. Set an alarm to go off 8-10 times a day, and drink a glass of water every time.
Avoid sitting for long periods: The tendency might be to sit in your office or in front of the TV during long stretches of wintery days. But inactivity is very hard on your veins. Be sure to get up and move at least once an hour—never sitting for an hour straight at any given time.
Treatments for Varicose Veins
Even when you are treating your veins with care, the varicose veins won’t go away. While many proposed at-home treatments for varicose veins exist, they don’t completely remove the underlying issue. Those veins are already damaged; the only option is to collapse or remove them and allow your body to reroute blood to healthier nearby veins.
View our varicose vein treatment options to find true varicose vein relief.
Finding Varicose Vein Treatment Near You
Varicose vein treatment typically takes less than an hour to complete, is minimally invasive, and is performed as an outpatient. Our experienced vascular surgeons and their caring staff pride themselves in offering the best vein care. Our patients report a 98% satisfaction rate, and we work hard to keep it that way. Our team is caring and supportive as we help you find a solution to treat your varicose veins. Don’t let those spider veins keep you down—schedule a consult today!