Vein Options

Varicose Vein Exercise May Help Blood Flow

Tiny valves in blood vessels are meant to keep blood from flowing backwards, away from the heart and many people have inherited bad valves. When these valves no longer perform their designed task, blood may pool inside the veins causing them to swell. They are indicated by larger, visible veins, typically in the legs or lower extremities, and appear near the surface of the skin to be blue or purple in color.

If you suffer from varicose veins exercise may help with the blood flow. During exercise the muscles in the legs will expand and contract helping to force the blood upwards to the heart. Additionally, some physicians contend that if a person is subject to varicose veins exercise may help strengthen the walls of the veins and prevent them from forming, or to form less radically.

While heredity is one of the chief factors for a person having varicose veins exercise may forestall some of the other contributing factors such as obesity, tumors, blood clots and heart disease. Since exercise is often recommended in helping with these other factors, for those genetically predisposed to varicose veins exercise may be a good precaution.

Pressure Hose May Help Those With Varicose Veins

Exercising by walking, running and cycling can cause your muscles to place a lot of force on your veins forcing them to empty, preventing the blood from pooling in the veins. During this type of varicose veins exercise, support hose will not be necessary and in hot weather can actually cause you to tire more quickly. The hose may act as a heat barrier preventing heat loss making your body temperature rise.

The pressure hose may help reduce swelling in your legs when you stand up as the pressure will help force the blood upwards instead of allowing it to pool in the veins, but while exercising, removing them is recommended. They are also not recommended to be worn while sleeping as your legs are normally elevated and they are not needed.

Varicose veins are more prevalent in women than in men and for those with varicose veins exercise may help the blood flow as well as strengthening the muscle in the legs. Most often varicose veins appear in the legs and feet, but they have been known to appear in other parts of the body as well so with varicose veins exercise limited to the lower extremities may seem logical, but exercising other parts of the body is also suggested.