If you follow the SIGVARIS 11-point program, you can reduce the occurrence of venous problems, even if you are in the at risk group.
The more points you can follow, the lower your risk to get venous problems.
Your doctor has prescribed compression stockings. Compression therapy increases the blood flow back to the heart. The stockings need to be worn regularly. Skipping days can lead to venous congestion (stasis) in the legs, and damage the veins.
- Get moving as much as possible
Start with walks: in the evening s before going to bed, for example, or at lunchtime, if your job involves mostly sitting or standing. Take part in a sport that has a beneficial effect on the veins, such as swimming, cycling, hiking, running, dancing, golf, and fitness exercises. When taking trips by car, bus, train or air, be sure to arrange breaks for exercising your legs.
- Watch your weight
Try to reach your normal weight and stay there. Each surplus pound puts pressure on the veins and impairs the flow of venous blood back to the heart.
- Keep your digestion regular
Change your diet; make sure you get enough fiber. Constipation prevents venous blood flowing upwards back to the heart.
- Strengthen your veins with hydrotherapy
Ablutions, hosing, and treading water (kneipp treatments) strengthen the tone of vein walls and prevent congestion.
- Let your legs decongest whenever possible
At night, rest your legs in a raised position by adjusting the foot end of your bed upwards. You can get the same effect by placing two blocks under the bedposts at the foot end (about four inches high).
During the day, put your feet up whenever you get the opportunity.
- Be sure to breathe deeply
Deep, conscious breathing supports the return flow of blood from the veins in the legs. Breathe deeply in and out, taking care to include the muscles of your abdomen and sides.
- Do regular leg and foot exercises
Fitness exercises decongest the legs and strengthen the veins, They are easy to learn and don’t take up much time. Take up fitness training.
- Wear suitable clothing and shoes
Make sure that your clothes are not restrictive and do not lead to congestion. For an optimum rolling movement of the foot, wear shoes without raised heels. Walking barefoot is the best thing you can do for your veins: the muscular pump of the calf is ideally activated by this.
- Avoid heating your legs excessively
Take showers instead of baths! Sunbathing, hot thermal baths, and saunas should also be avoided. If you don’t want to give up these activities, which involve heating up of the legs, you should limit the time you engage in them as much as possible, and be sure to cool your legs down again afterwards (hose down the legs).
- Lying down and walking versus sitting and standing
The general rule is that lying down and walking are good for your veins, while sitting and standing damage them.
- Wear SIGVARIS compression stockings
Wear compression stockings when you have to spend most of the time sitting or standing during the day. SIGVARIS compression stockings and compression pantyhose are available in different qualities of materials, ,and in fashionable colors. Ask your dealer to advice you.
