To properly take care of your wellness, health experts agree that you should engage in regular physical activity. Exercise will keep your entire body healthy, including your veins. While you will need treatment from a vascular doctor to get rid of varicose veins, you can manage some of the uncomfortable symptoms with proper exercise.
But you should know which activities can actually help your veins and which might harm them before you start your exercise routine. Read on to find tips from your vein disease expert about how you can exercise safely when you have varicose veins.
Seek Movements That Improve Circulation
Varicose veins refer to a condition in which a valve within a blood vessel malfunctions and allows a backflow within a vein. This results in a pooling of blood in this vein. And this gives you a bulging appearance and discoloration that you can see beneath your skin.
To combat this effect within the veins, you can complete exercises that work to improve your circulation or blood flow. Since this condition forms frequently in the legs, you can target these areas with leg movements. Walking, running, swimming, and cycling will keep these parts of the body in motion to improve circulation there.
If you have other conditions that impair your ability to move, you can pursue alternative exercises that will address your blood circulation. Stretches like calf raises can get the blood flowing in the legs. This will involve raising yourself onto tiptoe and lowering your feet again. Consult with your doctor to ensure it is safe to complete these exercises.
Be Careful When Lifting Weights
Physical activity will help your blood pressure and circulation, but certain exercises might negatively impact your varicose veins symptoms. For instance, lifting weights works to strengthen muscles, but the action puts pressure on the veins.
This excess pressure may restrict the blood flow between your limbs and your heart, worsening your case of varicose veins. If you want to pursue strengthening exercises, ask your vascular doctor about safe ways to accomplish this that will not impact your vein problems.
Limit Exertion After Vein Disease Treatment
Exercise can be highly beneficial for your vein health. But if you receive vein treatment for varicose veins, pay attention to the aftercare instructions from your doctor. While a doctor will ask you to walk regularly, for at least 30 minutes each day, to encourage blood flow in your freshly treated legs, they will want you to limit exertion as well.
Weight-lifting or high cardio exercise will exhibit pressure on your veins that need time to recover from a vascular procedure. Your doctor will let you know how long to avoid these heavier forms of physical activity. Usually, this healing period lasts about two or three weeks.
Post-operative care for your veins will vary depending on the type of treatment you receive for your varicose veins. Do not hesitate to ask your vascular specialist about your unique recovery expectations.