Are your unsightly varicose veins a cause of embarrassment? Do they cause your legs to swell adding additional shame? Orlando Vein Center, Florida Vein Care, offers 5 ways that you can improve the appearance and health of your legs.
- The First Step – Relax! Bet you didn’t expect this one to be at the top of the list. Being stressed is completely detrimental to your physical well-being. When you are stressed, your muscles tense and your blood pressure increases. Your heart works inefficiently and can weaken, wreaking havoc on your entire vascular system. If you find that stress is creeping into your day, make the time to breathe a few slow, deep breaths; step back from what is causing the stress and mentally refocus.
- The Second Step – Eat Better! It’s really not new. You’ve heard it a million times. Eat smart. From adding fruits and vegetables for their vitamins, folic acid, and powerful antioxidants, to reducing your salt intake to maintain a healthy blood pressure, you know you need to eat a well-balanced diet to stay fit and trim. Lowering your salt intake will also help to alleviate swelling of the legs and ankles. Cut out fried foods and keep your cholesterol low. It’s also important to regulate your blood sugar.
- The Third Step – Get More Exercise! Humans are mobile creatures. Our ancestors walked everywhere, foraged and then hunted for food. As the species evolved, we seem to have found ways to avoid exercising. Our cardiovascular systems were designed to work optimally with regular exercise to help our hearts grow and stay strong. Never start an exercise program without speaking with your doctor first, but it’s time to get off the couch and get moving. It’s proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and you will feel better!
- The Fourth Step – Sleep! Get a good night’s sleep every night. Yes, those 8 hours a night really are important for adults. Studies have shown that the walls of your arteries accumulate excess calcium without consistently experiencing a true, restorative sleep. Calcium build up is a contributing factor to developing cardiovascular disease. If you experience frequent trouble getting to, or staying asleep, you should discuss it with your doctor. Some experts recommend that you not watch TV or use electronic devises right before bedtime. Find a routine that works for you and stick to it.
- The Fifth Step – Quit Smoking! This step only applies to you if you smoke, and there are many of you who still do despite the warnings. Tar and nicotine do indeed build up in the lungs, throat, and mouth, in addition to hardening the walls of your veins. This puts you at a high risk for developing varicose veins and blood clots. Blood clots can lead to pulmonary embolism which can result in death. Is it worth it to keep smoking? Speak with your doctor to find a method to help you quit permanently.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and staying stress-free will help to keep your cardiovascular health in check. You know you need to quit smoking; enough said. If you have any questions or concerns about your vascular health, schedule an Orlando vein center appointment with Dr. Bragg and his staff at the Florida Vein Care Center. Don’t put off what you should do today! Call us at 407-805-8989.