In short, there is no home remedy to cure varicose veins, but that doesn’t mean that some home remedies don’t prevent the worsening or development of new varicose veins. Although varicose veins won’t go away on their own, the symptoms of swelling, heaviness and pain may subside temporarily.
Varicose veins are dilated branches of veins near the surface of the skin. Much like a stretched-out sweater, there is no way to reverse the dilation of the vein, but there are ways to prevent it from getting worse.
Weight loss and exercise are the two most important therapies for varicose veins. By reducing total body weight, there will be less weight pressing on the veins returning blood to the heart. This lets the veins empty more easily, leading to less pressure and dilation that causes varicose veins.
Exercise is great therapy for swelling and vein problems. The repeated squeezing of the calf muscles pumps the venous blood back to the heart. Also, increased activity will improve circulation to the legs. Low impact activities like swimming, water aerobics, walking, cycling or yoga can improve circulation without the risk of injury.
Compression stockings are commonly recommended for the treatment and prevention of varicose veins. The stockings squeeze the legs, driving the blood and swelling up the leg and back to the heart, and push blood into the deeper veins that work more effectively.
There are two grades of compression: over-the-counter and prescription. They differ in the amount of “squeeze” on the legs. For jobs with excessive standing or sitting, pregnancy, in patients without symptoms of wounds, pain, swelling, heaviness or a diagnosis of venous insufficiency, the over-the-counter strength is usually enough support. In patients with the listed symptoms and/or venous disease diagnosed on ultrasound, a prescription can be written for stronger compression to more adequately treat the veins.
My final advice to help with varicose veins is to elevate your legs. You can do this with a recliner or even pillows. By elevating your legs above your heart, gravity helps the fluid return to allow the swelling to improve.
The Vein Center: Treating Varicose Veins in Dallas, TX
At The Vein Center, we know veins. We are your go-to for helping you fully understand your options, and with guidance from our team of specialists, choose the right treatment for you.
An evaluation at The Vein Center at Lam Vascular & Associates is non-invasive and involves the use of ultrasound to look at the size and flow of the veins. If the underlying vein is the problem, it can be treated first and the spider veins may resolve on their own. If spider veins remain, or for varicose veins, they can be treated with a minimally-invasive procedure that will close these veins and make them disappear.
Not sure if you should seek treatment? Take our Vein Self-Test to find out!
Meet Dr. Wishnew
Jenna Wishnew, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon at Lam Vascular & Associates. She has extensive experience in wound care, using this expertise to treat varicose veins, venous insufficiency and associated wounds at The Vein Center at Lam Vascular & Associates.
Schedule your evaluation at The Vein Center at Lam Vascular & Associates today. Enjoy healthy legs for a healthy life!
