Are you scared of
spiders - the ones that start at the top of your leg and travel all the way down
to the bottom? You know - those bluish spiders that can only be hidden by
tights and pants? Of course real spiders are easier to get rid of then
the spiders - veins - that we are referencing. If you are continually on your
feet read on.
What are varicose veins and WHY do we get them?
Varicose veins, also known as spider veins, are
enlarged and often swollen veins that become large enough to be visible under
the skin of your legs. Your heart contracts and this pressure of your heart
muscles push fresh blood with oxygen through your arteries to all the cells of
your body. The veins in your body carry blood from all of your cells towards
your heart and allow for carbon dioxide and other waste products to be removed
from your cells, but the veins do not have a pressure system, like your heart,
to force the blood back up! Luckily for us, our bodies are pretty amazing and
were designed to allow for a steady flow of blood through your veins through a
number of complex mechanisms, one of which is a one-way valve system that only
allows blood to move up towards your heart.
If your blood does not flow steadily through your
veins, the blood can begin to pool and cause your veins to enlarge. When they
enlarge, the valves become less effective – at this point, you’ve got varicose
veins. You can develop them in a number of different places, but it is most common
in your lower legs.
HOW can prevent these veins from developing?
The BEST way to prevent these veins from forming is
to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system with regular exercise and a healthy
diet. When your heart is strong, your blood vessels stay clean and flexible and
allow for steady blood flow.
You also want to take care of your liver, as a large
portion of your blood travels here first (your liver acts to remove the waste
products returned in your veins before it reaches the heart). If your liver is
stressed, it will degenerate and cause the blood to flow improperly through it,
leading to the pooling of blood in the veins of your legs. Minimize your
alcohol intake, as well as use of acetaminophen and prescription medication to
help your liver maintain a healthy state.
Along with looking after your liver, you will also
want to take care of your lungs! All of the blood that moves through your veins
ultimately ends up in your lungs to pick-up more oxygen to re-deliver to your
cells. If your lungs are diseased, the flow of blood becomes strained and can
cause blood pooling in your veins, much in the same way as an ill liver can do.
Eating foods that are high in Vitamin C and
flavonoids is essential to building and protecting strong blood vessels. Raw
chocolate is very rich in flavanoids – the perfect excuse for chocolate!
If you are already noticing these little veins
popping out under your skin, wearing compression stockings is the best
first-line treatment for them. These stockings or socks are worn all day and
act to steadily squeeze your legs, helping veins and your leg muscles to move
the blood back up more efficiently. The prescription grade stockings can be
found in most chiropractic offices and, at non-prescription pressures, in most
pharmacies and drug stores.
Why should we try to prevent them?
If varicose veins are left to their own devices, they
can become quite painful – worsening with walking or standing. They can also
become so itchy that scratching can become uncontrollable and ulcers can
develop. In very rare cases, the veins can form clots that can break off and
travel to your lungs, leading to breathing and heart problems.
Sometimes, these veins are not very preventable –
genetics play a strong role in determining whether you will get them. They also
tend to show up in pregnancy due to the increased pressure of the growing womb
on the inferior vena cave – one of the largest veins in your body. Don’t fret!
Most of the veins that do appear during pregnancy will resorb.
