The Health Diva

What’s the alternative: Varicose veins

Aug 30 2010 by Vicky Perks, Western Mail

VARICOSE veins – veins that are permanently dilated – are unfortunately very common, particularly if you spend a lot of time standing.

They occur mainly in the lower extremities because of the greater pressure exerted on them.

Muscles in the foot, calf and thigh act as pumps to push blood from the foot to the heart.

Valves in the vein close like gates if blood tries to run in the wrong direction, but if these valves fail to work properly, blood is forced to flow back down the leg causing superficial veins under the skin to bulge.

In effect, the varicose veins you see in your legs are due to blood damming up in superficial veins and their branches.

Why these veins fail is not completely understood but it may be due to a weakness in the valve itself or in the vein wall.

In addition to the veins themselves, legs can often feel tired and heavy and may be prone to swelling and cramping.

In severe cases surgery is the sensible option, but if you take care of your legs before they get to such a serious stage, then less drastic treatments can go a long way.

If you can help it, avoid standing for prolonged periods of time and if you do have to stand for a while, make a point of changing your position, shifting from one leg to the other. Try some leg exercises or wiggle your toes now and again.

To help reduce heaviness and swelling elevate your legs above the level of your heart for about 10 minutes each day. A simple way of achieving this is by lying down and resting your legs on a stack of pillows.

And avoid high heels – low heeled shoes work your calf muscles harder, which is better for your veins.

Herbal remedies can also help. One which has been used since the 19th century to help with leg and vein health is Aesculus or horse chestnut.

It has the ability to help improve the tone of veins, reducing leakage into the surrounding tissue.

Horse chestnut tablets and tincture can be taking orally and horse chestnut gel can be rubbed into tired legs.