Outdoor Recreational Exercises That Help Varicose Veins
If you have varicose veins, you know how painful and unsightly they can be. Fortunately, one of the best things you can do to alleviate the symptoms and prevent additional varicose veins from forming is to improve your circulation. An easy way to do this is to ramp up your exercise routine and add some hiking, biking or other low-impact aerobic exercise to your weekly routine. However, not all forms of exercise are beneficial for those with varicose veins. It’s important to know what exercises can help and which you should avoid. In addition, it’s wise to consult your doctor before you begin any new exercise routine.
Fun Florida Activities That Help Varicose Veins
Florida’s year-round sunny weather makes it a great place to get outdoors and exercise. For those with varicose veins, the best types of exercise are low impact cardiovascular or low weight-bearing exercises. These include…
- Hiking
- Walking
- Swimming
- Biking
- Yoga
All of these increase your heart rate without putting undue stress on your joints, ligaments and muscles.
Exercises That Harm Varicose Veins
Not all exercises are beneficial to those with varicose veins. Two types of exercise that do more harm than good are…
- Weightlifting
- Running
Does Working Out Get Rid of Varicose Veins?
The short answer is no, because varicose veins are a sign of damage that has already been done to your vascular system. However, the good news is that by improving your circulation and your muscle tone by working out, you can help prevent further damage and additional varicose veins from occurring as well as ease the pain of your existing varicose veins.
To get rid of varicose veins permanently, you need to undergo one of the many treatments for this condition. After that, continued low-impact, aerobic exercise can help keep them from reoccurring.
Treatments for Varicose Veins
There are many treatments for varicose veins. These include…
Laser Ablation
This outpatient treatment uses a laser fiber to close down an abnormal vein. Most people leave the office pain-free.
Ambulatory Microphlebectomy
This procedure, which is performed with a local anesthetic, helps reduce the pain and the unsightliness of large varicose veins. The doctor makes micro cuts in the vein and teases it out with surgical hooks. There is minimal pain with this procedure and virtually no “down time”.
Ultrasound Guided Chemical Ablation
Used for deeper veins that aren’t good candidates for laser treatment, ultrasound guided chemical ablation uses an FDA-approved chemical to seal the abnormal vein shut.
Foam Sclerotherapy
Foam Sclerotherapy uses a gas that turns into a foam with a chemical to seal abnormal veins. This technique is used for twisting veins that would be impossible to treat using a laser. The foam often yields better results than using a straight solution, especially on the larger veins. The tiny bubbles in the foam act to displace blood in the vein when injected and make it easier to close.
Get Treated by Our Vein Doctors at The Kimmel Institute in Florida
If you have varicose veins and live in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton or West Palm Beach, we can help you. Our team of South Florida varicose vein experts can work with you to determine the treatment will work best for you. To learn more or to set up an appointment with us, call (insert contact info).