Addressing the Causes of Varicose Veins

If you are wondering about how to prevent varicose veins, it is good to start with what causes them. Poor circulation is the primary cause, and this can be due to weak or damaged veins in the legs, too low or too high blood pressure, obesity, or atrophy of the leg muscles. Veins return blood to the heart, and in the legs the circulatory system must fight gravity to achieve this. Besides the pumping of the heart, the body uses several mechanisms to regulate blood flow, including abdominal breathing and the flexing of leg muscles. This presents two solutions to the problem of varicose veins.

The Underlying Culprit: Sedentary Lifestyle

Most of the causes of varicose veins are directly related to lifestyle. Work demands many to sit or stand in place for long periods of time. This undermines the ability of leg muscles to help in returning venous blood. The easiest solution to this is to take brief breaks every 30 minutes or so to stretch and flex the calves and thighs. Research shows that after 20 minutes of sitting, the blood pools in the buttocks, but it only takes 20 seconds of standing to re-establish flow to the extremities and brain. So, the first answer to how to prevent varicose veins begins with using the legs, as they were intended. Anaerobic exercise can be used to strengthen and tone the leg muscles for better prevention.

Increasing Circulation By Other Means

Circulatory health has suffered in recent decades, as heart disease has become the number one killer. Besides eating a fiber rich diet to prevent obesity, the savvy eater will include circulation promoting herbs in the diet, like cayenne, thyme and rosemary. Also, some strain can be removed from the heart. The diaphragm has been referred to as the second heart, because flexing it puts pressure on the aortic artery and vena cava. Most people breathe through the upper and middle chest, which causes a number of chronic conditions over the long-term. Take 10 minutes a day to practice abdominal breathing, and start using it as often as possible. Add these strategies for how to prevent varicose veins to your life, and enjoy good health.