The Effect of Leg Elevation on Varicose Veins
Many suffering from varicose veins try to find alternative ways to deal with their condition. But with an experienced vein specialist looking after you, undergoing varicose veins treatment is nothing to worry about. Besides, your vein specialist will look into your condition and medical history and recommend the optimal way for the treatment of varicose veins in your particular case.
It is important to understand that varicose veins will not simply go away. What you can do is get informed and find our more about the results of varicose veins laser treatment in Beverly Hills. In the meantime, your vein specialist will also instruct you on the ways of preventing the condition from getting worse.
In this article, we’ll focus on leg elevation and its effect on your varicose veins.
Does elevating legs help varicose veins?
In short, it does. Impaired circulation aggravates any kind of vascular disease, including varicose veins. Keeping your legs elevated is one way to boost your body’s blood circulation.
Elevating your legs will provide instant relief by taking the pressure off your legs and reducing the swelling. Leg elevation is especially important if there are aspects of your lifestyle that further aggravate the condition, such as:
- Wearing tight clothes
- Wearing high heels
- Sitting for longer periods of time
- Standing for longer periods of time
- Being overweight
- Having a diet high in salt
What are the alternatives to keeping my legs elevated?
Boosting your blood circulation is absolutely necessary even if you are in no position to lie down, especially if you are forced to stand or sit for longer periods of time. When that is the case, make sure to bend or flex your legs every now and then.
Another way to counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting or standing is to take up physical activity. If you don’t have the time for a full workout, even a moderate activity such as taking a short walk in Beverly Gardens Park will do.
How do you elevate your legs for varicose veins?
When it comes to varicose veins, recommendations are made on a case-by-case basis. Because they will have examined you beforehand, your vein specialist is the only person you can rely on for expert guidance. Nevertheless, there are some basic principles you can follow in terms of leg elevation.
For instance, your vein specialist will probably instruct you to keep your feet elevated above your heart level for about 15 minutes at a time, and repeat the process three or four times a day. However, you should make sure you are positioned comfortably the whole time. Use pillows for support and extra comfort.
How long should you elevate your legs for varicose veins?
Again, this depends on your particular case, but, as mentioned before, doctors usually recommend keeping the legs elevated for about 15 minutes at a time, three or four times a day. This increases the flow of blood through the vessels.
Still, consulting a physician is the only way to ensure you are elevating your legs properly and not causing damage to any other part of your body, such as your knees or ankles.
Is it good to elevate your legs while sleeping?
As mentioned above, it will do your legs good to keep them elevated but only if you do it properly, by opting for the optimal position and angle. Make sure you ask your vein specialist about your optimal leg elevation method and duration.
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