Advocates of total health and healing, San Diego Vascular Center constantly strives to encourage a healthy lifestyle through proper diet, nutrition and exercise. A healthy lifestyle can help you delay or prevent the appearance or symptoms of varicose veins and spider veins.

You can personally minimize your risk factors for vein disease by altering your lifestyle or habits. Compression stockings are a crucial component of vein disease treatment. When worn, they support the legs, reducing the pressure in the veins and also, the amount of blood that is “pooled” in each vein. If the veins are supported, they are less likely to progressively dilate and if there is less blood in the varicose vein, less chance of forming a clot.

If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about ideal body weight and establish a plan to achieve that goal. Weight loss can help reduce the venous pressure in the legs and the veins may become less prominent. Regular exercise such as walking or biking is important. Exercise activates the muscles of the legs and helps reduce pressure in the veins of the legs.

Skin care is crucial. A simple step in preventing the wound complications of venous disease is to apply moisturizing cream to the skin twice daily. This helps avoid eczema or dry skin, which is more prone to injury and infection. Finally, it is important to understand your family history. If there is a significant history of vein problems involving other family members (including varicose veins, sores, wounds or blood clots), you may be at greater risk.

Speak with one of San Diego Vascular Center’s Board Certified Vascular Surgeons to learn about additional behaviors that can contribute to varicose and spider vein prevention and optimal vein health.

For more information, visit Rethink Varicose Veins, a website that encourages individuals with varicose and spider veins to learn more, get screened and find out about varicose vein treatment options.