If the veins are dilated, there are contraindications for varicose veins in the legs. You must change your lifestyle, abandon bad habits, saunas, intense physical activity and hormonal contraceptives. It is recommended to choose the right footwear and follow a diet. Some types of massages, waxing and tattoos are also prohibited.
What are the contraindications?
Alcohol and smoking
Complications of varicose veins in the legs due to bad habits are life-threatening.
For varicose veins, alcoholic beverages are strictly contraindicated. Once in the body, alcohol first has a vasodilating effect, increasing blood flow to the legs. Vasospasm then occurs, causing stagnation of blood. In addition, with varicose veins, the vascular walls become weak and thin, so there is a risk of rupture of the veins and bleeding. Nicotine also contributes to vasoconstriction and the formation of blood clots.
Take hormonal contraceptives
The use of hormonal contraceptives causes elevated levels of progesterone in women, which contributes to the dilation of the veins. As a result, the functioning of the venous valves is disturbed, blood outflow worsens, and the tone of the vascular walls decreases. Hormonal contraceptives also increase the viscosity of blood plasma, which leads to the formation of blood clots.
Sport activities
If you have varicose veins, practicing strength sports is contraindicated, since during lifting heavy objects there is a large flow of blood to the lower extremities. Athletics, gymnastics, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and soccer are also prohibited. These sports are also very traumatic. Injuries are always accompanied by swelling and poor circulation, which negatively affects dilated veins. Hiking and swimming are recommended. This helps strengthen blood vessels and muscles and normalize lymph flow.
Visit the bathhouse and sauna.
Exposure to high temperatures with varicose veins of the lower extremities can be harmful. Hot water and steam help dilate blood vessels by increasing the volume of blood entering them. A redistribution of load occurs when healthy veins take over the function of the affected vessels. This leads to the formation of varicose veins in the deep veins. You can visit the bath only at the initial stage of the disease after consulting a doctor. A visit to the sauna should be replaced by a visit to the infrared cabin.
Diet
For varicose veins, it is recommended to adjust the diet. To thin the blood, it is advisable to drink between 1. 5 and 2 liters of clean water per day. What you can and cannot eat is shown in the table:
| Permitted | Forbidden |
|---|---|
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Lifestyle
To live normally with varicose veins in the legs, it is worth abandoning a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity worsens blood circulation and contributes to obesity. It is recommended to perform feasible exercises daily that improve blood flow and strengthen muscles:
- rotational movements of the foot;
- roll from heel to toe;
- raise the leg with the finger extended;
- roll a ball or stick placed under the foot.
If you have varicose veins, sitting cross-legged is strictly prohibited. It is recommended to sleep with varicose veins in your back, placing a hard cushion or pillow under your feet so that your lower limbs are slightly elevated. This will improve blood flow during sleep. It is prohibited to wear accessories on the legs that pinch blood vessels.
Footwear selection
If you have inflammation of the veins, you should avoid tight, uncomfortable shoes with high heels. Wearing this type of shoes impairs the blood supply to the lower extremities, contributes to inadequate load on the legs and causes cramps. You must correctly choose shoes for varicose veins, following the following recommendations:
- Naturalness of the materials. This ensures good ventilation, so the foot does not sweat and swelling does not occur.
- Appearance. The sole must be stable, rigid and anatomically correct. The heel is wide, no more than 4 cm high.
- Adjustable closure. It is best to choose shoes with laces or Velcro that will not pinch your feet.
Massage sessions
If you have varicose veins, you cannot perform massages with rollers, vacuum cleaners or anti-cellulite medications.Such procedures are accompanied by pressure, patting and pinching, which can lead to injury to the veins and the formation of blood clots.It is best to remove the swelling with light upward movements of the foot. You can use a special vibrating massager or undergo hydromassage sessions. Such procedures improve blood circulation, strengthen the walls of blood vessels and saturate tissues with oxygen.
Cosmetic procedures
Taking care of your legs due to varicose veins is very important. However, you should avoid procedures such as:
- tattoo;
- waxing;
- sugar;
- hair removal using cosmetic instruments.
Such procedures are performed with heated devices that damage blood vessels and cause a rush of blood to the lower extremities. Tattooing does not solve aesthetic problems and can cause new areas of the affected veins to appear. You can mask varicose nodes with the help of sclerotherapy performed by a phlebologist. When caring for the skin on your legs, it is better to use laser hair removal services or a regular shaver.