If the veins are dilated there are contraindications for varicose veins in the legs. You should change your lifestyle, abandon bad habits, saunas, heavy physical activity and hormonal contraceptives. It is advisable to choose the right shoes and follow a diet. Some types of massage, waxing and tattooing are also prohibited.
What are the contraindications?
Alcohol and smoking
Complications with 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 and foremost has a vasodilatory effect, increasing blood flow to the legs. Then vasospasm occurs, which causes blood stagnation. In addition, with varicose veins, the vascular walls are weakened and thinned, so there is a risk of rupture of the veins and bleeding. Nicotine also contributes to vasoconstriction and the formation of blood clots.
Taking hormonal contraceptives
The use of hormonal contraceptives causes high levels of progesterone in women, which contributes to the dilation of the veins. As a result, the functioning of the venous valves is disrupted, the outflow of blood 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.
Sports activities
If you have varicose veins, it is contraindicated to do strength sports, since when lifting weights there is a large blood flow to the lower extremities. Athletics, gymnastics, freestyle skiing, snowboarding and football are also prohibited. These sports are also highly traumatic. Injuries are always accompanied by swelling and poor circulation, which negatively affect dilated veins. Hiking and swimming are recommended. This helps strengthen blood vessels and muscles and normalize lymphatic outflow.
Visit to 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, as it increases 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 bathhouse only at the initial stage of the disease after consulting a doctor. The visit to the sauna should be replaced with a visit to the infrared cabin.
Diet
In case of varicose veins, it is advisable to change your diet. To thin your blood you should drink 1. 5–2 liters of clean water per day. What you can and cannot eat is shown in the table:
| Allowed | Prohibited |
|---|---|
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Lifestyle
To live normally with varicose veins on the legs, you should abandon a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity worsens blood circulation and contributes to obesity. It is recommended to perform achievable exercises that improve blood flow and strengthen muscles daily:
- rotational movements of the foot;
- roll from heel to toe;
- raise the leg with the toe extended;
- roll a ball or stick placed under your foot.
If you have varicose veins, it is strictly forbidden to sit with your legs crossed. It is recommended to sleep with varicose veins on the back, placing a pillow or hard pillow under the feet so that the lower limbs are slightly raised. This will improve blood flow during sleep. It is forbidden to wear accessories on the legs that pinch blood vessels.
Shoe selection
If you have vein inflammation, you should avoid tight, uncomfortable shoes with high heels. Wearing such shoes impairs blood supply to the lower extremities, contributes to improper load on the legs and causes cramps. It is necessary to correctly choose shoes for varicose veins, adhering to the following recommendations:
- Naturalness of the materials. This ensures good ventilation, so the foot does not sweat and swelling does not occur.
- I wait. 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 do not pinch your feet.
Massage sessions
If you have varicose veins, you cannot do roller, vacuum or anti-cellulite massage.These procedures are accompanied by pressing, patting and pinching, which can cause injury to the veins and blood clots.It is best to remove swelling with light stroking movements from the foot upwards. 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 for varicose veins is very important. However, you should avoid procedures such as:
- tattoo;
- hair removal with wax;
- sugaring;
- hair removal with cosmetic tools.
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 the appearance of new affected venous areas. You can mask varicose nodes with the help of sclerotherapy performed by a phlebologist. When caring for the skin of the legs, it is best to use laser hair removal services or a regular razor.