"Whether standing for a long time or sitting... how to improve blood circulation in the legs?"

 

Story of Journalist Jeong Hee-eun (eun@kormedi.com)

 

There are people who feel shy even when they want to comfortably expose their legs. These are patients with varicose veins. It is often mistaken for bulging tendons, but varicose veins in the legs refer to the superficial veins, usually the superficial veins, that have enlarged to over 3mm. It is especially common in the elderly, women, postpartum women, and those who stand for long periods. Among these, varicose veins caused by valve insufficiency can worsen and cause side effects if left untreated, making prevention and treatment in daily life important. Based on health information from Seoul Asan Medical Center, we have compiled questions related to varicose veins.

 

Isn't sitting for a long time also bad?

 

I know that standing for a long time can cause varicose veins, but sitting for a long time is also not good. First of all, in the area below the knees, blood has to flow against gravity, which can easily lead to varicose veins.

If you sit in the same position for a long time without using your calf muscles at all, the power to pump blood from the legs to the heart weakens, leading to varicose veins. The primary force that helps blood flow toward the heart is the contraction of the calf muscles, which squeezes the veins from outside. To prevent this, it is important to frequently do stretching or walking exercises in daily life to activate the calf muscles.

Compression stockings for swollen legs?

 

One of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms of varicose veins is 'leg swelling.' However, in the case of stockings that only cover the calves, they can tighten around the ankles and actually cause swelling below the ankles. In such cases, it is important to use stockings that are put on starting from the feet. For the area above the calves, putting them on and taking them off can be very inconvenient, and relatively large blood vessels are well developed there.

Therefore, applying pressure only up to knee level can help alleviate symptoms. There is recommended pressure for compression stockings by vascular societies, but it is often difficult to match this pressure with regular stockings. The pressure varies depending on the patient's leg circumference and the size of the compression stockings. For proper compression stockings, it is advisable to have the leg measurements taken at the hospital and to wear stockings that fit the individual with the appropriate pressure (around 30mmHg).

 

What type of clothing worsens varicose veins?

 

Wearing compression underwear or skinny jeans that press on the abdomen or lower body can worsen varicose veins in the legs. Since the fundamental cause of varicose veins is the issue of blood flow moving toward the heart, compressing the upper blood vessels that promote this flow does not help with varicose veins.

 

What exercises help with varicose veins?

 

Varicose veins are alleviated when the calf muscles are used extensively to help push blood upward. Therefore, it is beneficial to use the calf muscles frequently. That is why after walking exercise, you feel that your legs are lighter. Lower body exercises such as hiking and walking also help with varicose veins.

 

Are foot baths or half-body baths recommended for varicose veins?

 

I believe that improving blood circulation through foot baths or half-body baths can help prevent varicose veins. However, varicose veins are caused by valve abnormalities inside the veins, which prevent blood flow from the legs back to the heart. Since the disease arises from issues with the direction of blood flow, practices like foot baths or half-body baths that cannot restore normal blood flow within the veins are not particularly helpful.

 

First, for conservative treatment, it is necessary to correct the long-standing habit of standing and to wear compression stockings during the day. If conservative treatment interferes with daily life, active treatment is required. Many cases have involved removing the causative vein through surgery, but recently, methods such as laser treatment to address the causative blood vessels without skin incision have become more diverse.

 

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I thought my legs only swelled and ached when I was standing, but...

It's the same when you're sitting.

 

Stand up and stretch from time to time.

Walking day

It definitely feels lightweight.