Pregnancy can be a wonderful time of growing new life and making plans for the future. Unfortunately, pregnancy can also take a toll on your body. Pregnancy can cause changes to your teeth, making them more prone to decay and discoloration. It can also make you more prone to spider and varicose veins. What are things you can to to help prevent vericose veins during pregnancy?
Varicose Veins
Previously we covered 7 Tips to Help You Score Healthier Whiter Teeth, in this installment we will cover six ways to prevent and treat varicose veins.
What are Varicose and Spider Veins?
Spider and varicose veins are most common in your lower legs, but they can also appear on the upper leg and other parts of your body. Spider and varicose veins are most common in your lower legs, but they can also appear on the upper leg and other parts of your body. According to a vein doctor in Phoenix, the veins become swollen and appear as discolored lines just below the surface of your skin.
Pregnancy and Spider and Varicose Veins
Your veins help blood flow back to your heart. Because they are delicate vessels with thin walls, they rely on momentum, muscle contractions, and a series of valves to keep blood flowing in the right direction. During pregnancy, there are several processes that can prevent the veins from working properly:
· The hormone progesterone causes the walls of the veins to relax, causing blood to pool in your lower legs
· The volume of blood in your body increases, which puts more pressure on your veins
· The growing uterus can press against the major vein (the vena cava) in your abdomen, which puts more pressure on the veins in your legs
· Weight gain during pregnancy can increase the pressure on your veins
6 Ways to Prevent Varicose Veins During Pregnancy
Spider and varicose veins can improve after you give birth, but they may never completely go away. Below are some ways to prevent these veins from developing during your pregnancy.
1. Wear compression leggings. Compression leggings provide gentle pressure to prevent blood from pooling in your lower legs and are designed to provide support without constricting your belly. Therefore, wearing compression leggings will help ensure swelling doesn’t occur which can lead to other complications. Compression leggings are tighter at the ankle, and become gradually looser up the leg to keep the blood going and prevent swelling in your ankles and calves.
2. Exercise regularly. Exercise encourages healthy circulation and cardiovascular fitness by increasing your heart rate. Additionally, the muscle contractions help push the blood through your veins and back to your heart.
3. Avoid sitting for long periods. Take frequent breaks to walk around. Sitting constructs the veins in your legs, and it prevents the rhythmic leg muscle contractions your veins need for adequate blood flow. You should also avoid crossing your legs or ankles.
4. Avoid standing for long periods. Take frequent breaks to walk around. Just as with sitting, standing still prevents the rhythmic leg muscle contractions your veins need. Additionally, when you stand still, your veins have to work harder to fight gravity.
5. Elevate your feet as much as possible. Raising your feet helps encourage blood flow.
6. Sleep on your left side. The vena cava is on the right. Sleeping on your left prevents the uterus from constricting the vena cava, which relieves the pressure on your leg veins.
Varicose veins are rarely serious or life-threatening. However, if you develop them and you notice redness or discoloration in your lower leg, swelling, a heavy feeling in your legs, pain, or leg sores, consult your physician.
