“Even if you stand or sit for a long time”… How to improve blood circulation in your legs?

“Even if you stand or sit for a long time”… How to improve blood circulation in your legs?

 

Story by reporter Jeong Hee-eun (eun@kormedi.com)

 

Some people want to show off their legs but are embarrassed. These are patients with varicose veins. While they often appear as bulging tendons, varicose veins occur when the superficial veins of the legs, commonly called "superficial veins," dilate to more than 3mm. They are particularly common in the elderly, women, postpartum women, and those who stand for long periods. Varicose veins caused by valvular insufficiency, in particular, can worsen and lead to side effects if left untreated, so prevention and treatment in daily life are crucial. We've compiled questions about varicose veins based on health data from Seoul Asan Medical Center.

 

They say sitting for long periods of time is not good for you either?

 

While it's well known that standing for long periods of time can cause varicose veins, sitting for long periods of time is also bad for you. Specifically, blood must flow against gravity below the knees, which can easily lead to varicose veins.

Sitting in one position for long periods without using your calf muscles at all weakens the power that pumps blood up the legs, making varicose veins more likely to develop. This is because the driving force behind blood flow toward the heart is the contraction of calf muscles, which squeeze the veins from the outside. To prevent this, regularly engage your calf muscles through stretching or walking exercises.

Compression stockings for swollen legs?

 

One of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms of varicose veins is "lower extremity swelling." However, stockings that only cover the calves can tighten the ankles, causing more swelling below the ankles. In such cases, it's important to wear stockings that extend from the foot. The upper leg area is particularly prone to discomfort, and the relatively large blood vessels are well-developed.

Therefore, even applying pressure up to about knee height can help alleviate symptoms. Vascular societies recommend a specific pressure for compression stockings, but it's often difficult to achieve this level with standard stockings. The pressure varies depending on the patient's leg thickness and the size of the compression stocking. Therefore, if you want to wear the right compression stockings, it's best to have your leg thickness measured at a hospital to determine the appropriate pressure (around 30 mmHg) for your body.

 

What kind of clothing can worsen varicose veins?

 

Wearing clothing that constricts the abdomen or lower body, such as shapewear or skinny jeans, can worsen varicose veins. Since the underlying cause of varicose veins is a problem with blood flow toward the heart, compressing the upper blood vessels, which promotes this, does not help.

 

What exercises help with varicose veins?

 

Varicose veins can be alleviated by actively using the calf muscles to pump blood upward. This is especially beneficial when exercising the calf muscles. This is why your legs feel lighter after walking. Lower body exercises like hiking and walking can also help with varicose veins.

 

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

 

It's believed that improving blood circulation through foot baths or half-baths can help prevent varicose veins. However, varicose veins are caused by valve problems within the veins, preventing blood from flowing back toward the heart. Because the condition arises from a disruption in blood flow, activities like foot baths or half-baths, which don't restore normal blood flow within the veins, are of little help.

 

Conservative treatment primarily involves correcting lifestyle habits that involve standing for long periods of time and wearing compression stockings during the day. If conservative treatment interferes with daily life, active treatment is necessary. While surgical removal of the causative veins has often been the solution, recent advances have included treatments using lasers and other non-invasive techniques.

 

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I thought my legs only swelled and tightened when I was standing.

It's the same when I'm sitting.

 

Get up from time to time and stretch,

The day I walk

I think it's definitely light