When it comes to staying active, most of us have our preferred activity and even a reason for performing it. From losing weight and staying in good physical shape to keeping your joints healthy and potentially increasing your lifespan, the reasons are endless.
But have you ever considered how certain activities can impact your vein health? You should — especially if you find yourself struggling with varicose veins. While certain actions, such as standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, can cause you to experience vein problems, other actions can combat those issues.
There are several activities you can do regularly that can help to improve your vein health, keep them strong, and avoid problems.
Exercises That Improve Vein Health
An Important Note
While exerciser can be very beneficial for your health and is most often safe, always consult your doctor before adopting a new fitness regimen or adding a specific exercise into your daily plan. This will help prevent you from getting injured or exacerbating any vein symptoms you may currently have.
Walking
Perhaps the simplest activity on this list, walking is a great way to improve your vein health. Simply by getting up and walking for 30 minutes a day, you can boost your circulation and allow your veins to function more properly.
While you could definitely pop on your walking shoes and get your 30 minutes in by getting on a treadmill or taking a brisk stroll around the neighborhood, there are plenty of other options you can choose. Take your dog for a walk and let them set the pace so it’s a bit easier to keep up a quicker motion, or bring a friend with you so you can both keep each other in check.
Cycling
A step up from walking, cycling is a great low-impact exercise that can get your blood flowing. You can choose a stationary bike at a gym or in your home, or you can opt to head out on an outdoor ride — any Coloradoan knows that our state offers plenty of scenic trails to choose from.
Cycling is a particularly great option for those who suffer from arthritis or restless leg syndrome since the action places very little stress on your joints. By cycling regularly, you can decrease vein inflammation as well as keep your joint from getting too stiff.
Swimming
Another low-impact exercise, swimming is a great way to relieve joint pain, get your calve muscles (and the veins within them) moving and increase blood flow. By kicking your legs while doing laps or even just leisurely wading through a pool, you can help improve your vein health.
Running
While running isn’t the best activity for everyone — as some consider it to put too much pressure on their joints — it does a great job as getting the blood flowing in your legs and feet and opening up your veins for better function.
If you’re interested in running but are worried about how much of an impact it will have on your joints, try starting out on grass or woodland trails since these tend to be the softest surfaces to run on. Just make sure the area you’re on is relatively even and dry to avoid slipping.
Kicking Your Feet Up
If the weather outside doesn’t allow for your favorite exercise or activity, or you’d rather take it easy one day, you can still support better vein health — just kick your feet up. By elevating your feet while laying down or lounging, you’re helping gravity bring blood back up your legs towards your heart, which can improve your overall vein function.
Rid Yourself of Varicose Veins at Albert Vein Institute
As the only distinguished IAC accredited vein center in Colorado, with double IAC accreditation, Albert Vein Institute is the best place to turn to when you’re struggling with varicose or spider veins.
Whether this is the first time you have sought treatment or you have been previously treated elsewhere unsuccessfully, we hope you will provide us an opportunity to provide excellent, long-term, successful results with any venous problems you may be experiencing.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation.