The veins in your lower legs are some of the hardest-working vessels in your entire body. They are taxed with the difficult task of moving blood in an upward direction – against the force of gravity and your body’s own weight – to get the blood back to the heart. With a tough job to do, is it any wonder why these veins are the most likely to become swollen and varicose? Maybe it is time to give those hard-working veins a break, while alleviating the look and symptoms of painful bulging varicose veins.
Causes of Varicose Veins
To understand the benefits of elevation, you need to know why varicose veins occur in the first place. The veins in the lower legs have small valves inside that keep blood moving upward, back to the heart. Because these vessels have to work so much harder than the rest of the veins in the body, it is more likely for these valves to wear out over time. When they no longer work as efficiently, blood can reflux back into the vessel, resulting in swelling and varicosity. The condition is known as chronic venous reflux or CVI.
The Benefits of Elevation
Elevating your legs for a period of time every day is an easy and effective way to take the pressure off those over-taxed vessels. Long stints of sitting or standing throughout the day can add to the strain on the lower leg veins, so it stands to reason that changing your position can bring some relief. When you elevate the legs above the level of the heart, it makes it much easier for lower leg veins to move blood efficiently back to the heart.
In addition to giving your legs a break, daily elevation offers additional benefits:
- It reduces swelling that is common with varicose veins of the lower legs
- It alleviates pain and fatigue in the legs common after a long day
- Relieving the pressure in the leg veins can improve circulation throughout the body
With a variety of advantages, putting your legs up becomes more than simply taking it easy at the end of a busy day. It becomes an essential part of a healthy circulatory system and pain-free legs.
How and When to Elevate
If you have never taken the time to elevate your legs before, you may be wondering how you will find time for the practice in the midst of your busy day. There are a number of ways you can work a bit of elevation into your daily routine:
- Relax in a recliner while reading a book or watching television
- Lie down on the couch with your feet up on the arm of the couch for additional elevation
- Elevate your legs in bed by placing them underneath a couple of pillows
- Put your feet up on an ottoman or the coffee table when reclining in a chair or on the couch
Treating Varicose Veins
While elevation is an effective way to minimize the symptoms of varicose veins, it will not eliminate swollen vessels that have already developed. At Incredible Veins Skin & Body, we offer minimally-invasive treatments that will effectively get rid of varicose veins and their uncomfortable symptoms for good. To learn more, contact our office today at 818-446-2995.