If the veins are dilated, there are contraindications for varicose veins on the legs. You should change your lifestyle, give up bad habits, saunas, heavy physical activity, and hormonal contraceptives. It is recommended to choose the right shoes and follow a diet. Some types of massages, waxing, and tattooing are also prohibited.
What are the contraindications?
Alcohol and smoking
Complications with varicose veins in the legs due to bad habits pose a threat to life.
For varicose veins, alcoholic drinks are strictly contraindicated. Once in the body, alcohol first has a vasodilating effect, increasing blood flow to the legs. Then vasospasm occurs, which provokes blood stagnation. In addition, with varicose veins, the vascular walls are weakened and thinned, so there is a risk of vein rupture and bleeding. Nicotine also contributes to vasoconstriction and the formation of blood clots.
Taking hormonal contraceptives
The use of hormone-based contraceptives provokes high levels of progesterone in women, which contributes to the dilation of 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 engage in strength sports, since during heavy lifting there is a large flow of blood 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 affects the dilated veins. Hiking and swimming are recommended. This helps strengthen blood vessels and muscles and normalize lymph outflow.
Visiting 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 the volume of blood entering them increases. A redistribution of the 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. A trip to the sauna should be replaced with a visit to the infrared cabin.
Diet
For varicose veins, it is recommended to adjust your diet. To thin the 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 | Forbidden |
|---|---|
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Lifestyle
To live normally with varicose veins on the legs, you should give up a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity worsens blood circulation and contributes to obesity. It is recommended to do feasible exercises daily that improve blood flow and strengthen muscles:
- rotational movements of the foot;
- roll from heel to toe;
- lifting the leg with an extended toe;
- rolling a ball or stick placed under the 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 your back, placing a bolster or hard pillow under your feet so that the 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.
Shoe selection
If you have inflammation of the veins, 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 provokes cramps. You need to choose shoes for varicose veins correctly, adhering to the following recommendations:
- Naturalness of 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 clasp. It is better 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.Such procedures are accompanied by pressing, patting and pinching, which can lead to injury to the veins and the formation of blood clots.It is better to remove swelling with light stroking movements from the foot upward. You can use a special vibrating massager or undergo hydromassage sessions. Such procedures improve blood circulation, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and saturate the 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 using wax;
- sugaring;
- hair removal using cosmetic instruments.
Such procedures are carried out with heated devices that injure blood vessels and cause a rush of blood to the lower extremities. Tattooing does not solve aesthetic problems and can provoke the appearance of new affected areas of veins. You can disguise varicose nodes with the help of sclerotherapy performed by a phlebologist. When caring for the skin of your legs, it is better to use laser hair removal services or a regular razor.