Varicose veins are blood vessels that swell, twist and become visible under the skin. This condition commonly affects the veins in the lower legs but may also affect the blood vessels in the rectum in a condition called hemorrhoids. Varicose veins can cause an aching pain, especially after standing or sitting for extended periods. The veins may also cause itching or skin ulcerations. Several home therapies can help treat and prevent the formation of varicose veins. When varicose veins cause painful symptoms or additional medical problems, medical intervention can help relieve the condition.
Prevention
Step 1
Maintain a healthy weight to decrease pressure on the blood vessels. Losing weight by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly will also help prevent the formation of varicose veins.
Step 2
Engage in regular exercise for the legs, such as walking, to increase the blood circulation through the varicose veins and increase muscle tone.
Step 3
Elevate the legs when standing or sitting to decrease pressure and improve circulation. This elevation helps treat and prevent varicose veins.
Step 4
Avoid sitting with crossed legs, because it may cause increased pressure on the veins in the leg. Positioning the legs correctly will help treat current varicose veins and can help prevent new ones from occurring.
Step 5
Wear compression stockings on the legs to ease the discomfort of varicose veins and to prevent getting them. These stockings, available at most drug stores and pharmacies, when worn all day help the blood move through the veins better. Measuring the leg helps find the proper size compression stocking to wear.
Step 6
Follow a high-fiber and low-salt diet to avoid excessive water retention in the lower legs. This diet will also help prevent constipation, which can cause hemorrhoids.
Step 7
Move around and change positions at least every 30 minutes to avoid long periods of standing and sitting. This movement will help encourage blood circulation.
Treatment
Step 1
Follow the same self-care options outlined in the "Prevention" section before moving to invasive treatment options. Losing weight, engaging in exercise, elevating the legs and wearing compression stockings will all help treat varicose veins.
Step 2
Have sclerotherapy performed in a physician’s office. During this procedure, a physician injects the problematic veins with saline or another solution, according to the Mayo Clinic. This causes the vein to harden and go away.
Step 3
Try an ablation to use heat to treat the varicose vein. With these procedures, an interventional radiologist uses an ultrasound machine to guide a catheter through the skin and into the vein to apply the heat therapy to the blood vessel, according to RadiologyInfo.org.
Step 4
Undergo a vein stripping procedure to treat the condition. For this procedure, a physician will make small incisions in the skin and remove the affected vein. This procedure does not compromise the circulation of the blood in the leg.
