Without varicose veins management or treatment, the condition may lead to chronic pain, but there are many treatment options and lifestyle choices that can help you control your symptoms. You can even exercise with varicose veins—provided you check with your doctor—to enhance blood flow.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, Dr. Mathew Cheung and Dr. Peter Lin offer 12 ways you can manage your varicose veins. In this discussion, you can learn many of these treatments can improve your varicose veins without surgery.

1. Compression stockings

2. Proper shoes

3. Avoid prolonged sitting or standing

4. Exercise

5. Dietary changes

6. Eat more flavonoids

7. Herbal remedies

8. Choose non-restrictive clothing

9. Stop Smoking

10. Keep the legs elevated

11. Losing Weight

12. Varicose veins treatment

Veins have valves that keep your blood flowing in one direction. When these valves don’t work properly, blood can pool, which may lead to varicose veins in the legs. Compression stockings are tight-fitting socks that put mild pressure on your legs. This helps support damaged valves and encourages proper blood flow. Compression stockings may also help prevent blood clots. A study from 2018 found that people who used knee-high compression stockings with a pressure of 18 to 21 mmHg for one week, reported a reduction in the pain and aching associated with varicose veins. Compression stockings can be found in pharmacies or online stores.

There are genetic risk factors that predispose you to varicose veins—and age plays a role—but certain lifestyle choices also substantially increase your odds of developing this potentially painful vein issue. Studies have found that wearing high-heeled shoes may increase your risk of developing varicose veins. If you already suffer from varicose veins, high heels can worsen these veins. Try a shoe with good arch support, a nursing shoe, or a stylish flat.

If you have a job that requires you to stand several hours per day—as nurses, teachers, and retail salespeople do—it is important to move, to rest, and to exercise. When you stand for prolonged periods, you are putting undue stress on your leg veins. When you sit for extended periods—as truck drivers and office workers do—you are compromising blood flow.

Exercising with varicose veins may be painful, but there are certain activities that can help improve blood flow through the leg veins. Ideally, you want to move your calves and get the blood flowing through your legs. It’s important to warm up before exercising with varicose veins, and it’s generally important to avoid exercising after certain vein treatments. If you have varicose veins, always consult your doctor before beginning an exercise routine.

Low-impact exercises help to get the calf muscles working without excessive strain. Effective, low-impact exercises include:

• swimming
• walking
• cycling
• Yoga

Salty or sodium-rich foods can cause the body to retain water, so cutting down on salty food can minimize water retention. Foods high in potassium can help to reduce water retention.

Foods that are high in potassium include:

• almonds and pistachio nuts
• lentils and white beans
• potatoes
• leafy vegetables
• some fish, such as salmon and tuna

Foods with fiber help to keep the bowels moving and prevent constipation. This may be important, as straining can aggravate damaged valves or make them worse.

Foods that are high in fiber include:

• nuts, seeds, and legumes
• oats, wheat, and flaxseed
• whole-grain foods

People who are overweight are more likely to experience varicose veins, therefore, shedding any excess pounds can reduce the pressure on the veins and alleviate swelling and discomfort.

Adding foods that contain flavonoids may also help a person to shrink their varicose veins.

Flavonoids improve blood circulation, which will keep the blood flowing, and make it less likely to pool in the veins. They also help to reduce blood pressure in the arteries and can relax blood vessels, all of which can reduce varicose veins.

Foods that contain flavonoids include:

• vegetables, including onions, bell peppers, spinach, and broccoli
• citrus fruits and grapes, cherries, apples, and blueberries
• cocoa
• garlic

According to the National Institute of Health, taking grape seed extract, Vitis vinifera, orally may help to reduce swelling in the lower legs and other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, though there is currently limited evidence for its effectiveness.

A person prescribed with blood-thinning medication should avoid taking grape seed extract, as a dietary supplement, as it can interact with the medication and increase the risk of bleeding.

Wearing tight-fitting clothes can restrict blood flow. A person may find that their circulation is improved by wearing loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict the blood supply to the lower body.

Wearing flat shoes instead of high heels may also help with varicose veins in the legs.

Smoking affects many organs in the body and can damage blood vessels as well.  Smoking restricts circulation and narrows blood vessels which can lead to poor circulation and the development of varicose veins.

As part of varicose veins management, you can elevate your feet to help blood flow more freely into and back from your legs, which improves circulation. Elevating your feet can help with pain and leg swelling. Reducing swelling may also help stave off the painful ulcers associated with vein disease. A person should aim to keep their legs elevated if they are going to be sitting down for long periods of time, such as during work or rest.

Carrying extra pounds puts pressure on your veins which may worsen the blood pooling caused by poorly functioning vein valves.  When you lose weight, you are also lessening the pressure that is put on your leg veins.  Losing weight cannot reverse the presence of varicose veins but may prevent any existing varicose veins from worsening in appearance.  Eating a balanced diet is an important factor in maintaining a healthy weight.  It’s also important to watch your salt intake, which can lead to water retention, general heaviness, and added pressure on your legs.

There are varicose veins treatments available for those who want to rid themselves of varicose veins under the care of a vascular specialist. Varicose veins can return after treatment so it’s important to make healthy lifestyle changes to support medical interventions. Generally, the more proactive you are with your health, the better the outcome.

Sclerotherapy is one treatment option for varicose veins. During this procedure, a vascular specialist will make injections into the varicose veins to help reroute blood flow to veins that are healthier. Alternatively, endovenous thermal ablation relies on high-frequency radio waves or laser heat to reroute blood to healthier veins and shut down problematic veins.

Occasionally, surgery for varicose veins is warranted, but when you are taking proactive steps—making healthy choices with your diet, quitting smoking, elevating your feet, and exercising—you stand a much better chance of avoiding surgery. You can also lower your risk of potentially dangerous complications like venous ulcers and blood clots.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, we strive to provide the best service, care, and results possible. If you are interested in varicose vein treatment, give us a call at 626-275-9566 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit us at www.vcsla.com for more information.