If the veins are enlarged, there are contraindications for varicose veins on the legs. You should change your lifestyle, give up bad habits, sauna, heavy physical activity and hormonal contraceptives. It is recommended to choose the right shoes and follow a diet. Certain types of massages, waxing and tattooing are also prohibited.
What are the contraindications?
Alcohol and smoking
Complications with varicose veins on the legs due to bad habits are life-threatening.
With varicose veins, alcoholic beverages are strictly contraindicated. When it enters the body, alcohol first has a vasodilating 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 vein rupture and bleeding. Nicotine also contributes to vasoconstriction and the formation of blood clots.
Taking hormonal contraceptives
The use of hormone-based contraceptives causes high levels of progesterone in women, which contributes to the dilation of veins. As a result, the work of the venous valves is disturbed, 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.
Sport activities
If you have varicose veins, engaging in strength sports is contraindicated, because when lifting heavy loads, there is a large flow of blood to the lower extremities. Athletics, gymnastics, free skiing, snowboarding and football are also prohibited. These sports are also very traumatic. Injuries are always accompanied by swelling and poor circulation, which negatively affects varicose veins. Hiking and swimming are recommended. This helps to strengthen blood vessels and muscles and normalize lymph drainage.
Visit to the bath and sauna
Exposure to high temperatures in 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. Load redistribution 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 bathroom only in the initial stage of the disease after consulting a doctor. Going to the sauna should be replaced by a visit to the infrared cabin.
Diet
In the case of varicose veins, it is recommended to adjust the diet. To dilute the blood, you need to drink 1. 5-2 liters of clean water a day. What you can and cannot eat is shown in the table:
| Allowed | Forbidden |
|---|---|
|
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Lifestyle
In order to live normally with varicose veins on your legs, you should give up a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity worsens blood circulation and contributes to obesity. It is recommended to do feasible exercises every day that improve blood flow and strengthen muscles:
- rotational movements of the feet;
- roll from heel to toe;
- raising the leg with the toe extended;
- 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 the back, placing a pad or a 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 leg accessories that pinch blood vessels.
Choice of shoes
If you have varicose veins, avoid tight, uncomfortable shoes with high heels. Wearing such shoes complicates the blood supply of the lower extremities, contributes to improper load on the legs and causes cramps. You need to choose the right shoes for varicose veins, adhering to the following recommendations:
- The naturalness of the material. This ensures good ventilation, so the foot does not sweat and does not swell.
- Appearance. The sole must be stable, rigid and anatomically correct. The heel is wide, no more than 4 cm high.
- Adjustable buckle. It is better to choose shoes with laces or velcro straps that do not pinch the feet.
Massage sessions
If you have varicose veins, you cannot do roller, vacuum or anti-cellulite massage.Such procedures are followed by pressing, tapping and pinching, which can lead to vein injuries and blood clot formation.It is better to remove the swelling with light caressing movements from the feet 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 the legs with varicose veins is very important. However, you should avoid actions such as:
- tattoo;
- waxing;
- sugaring
- hair removal with cosmetic instruments.
Such procedures are performed with heated devices that injure blood vessels and cause a rush of blood to the lower extremities. Tattooing does not solve aesthetic problems and may cause the appearance of new affected areas of veins. You can cover up varicose veins with the help of sclerotherapy performed by a phlebologist. When taking care of the skin of your legs, it is better to use laser hair removal services or a regular razor.