Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #16: The Vein of My Existence

Nearly 10 percent of all adult men and 20 percent of all adult women are affected by varicose veins to some degree. For many people they are a family trait. Although they can appear anywhere, they usually affect the legs and feet. Varicose veins can often be painful and perhaps unsightly, can become tender to the touch and can hinder circulation when inflamed. This causes a myriad of symptoms, including aching legs and feet, itchiness, swollen ankles and even discolored, peeling skin and, in extreme cases, skin ulcers.

Varicose veins are caused by a variety of conditions, including dietary deficiency, heavy lifting, hormonal changes due to pregnancy or aging, having a job that requires prolonged sitting or standing, lack of exercise, obesity, genetics - even tight clothing - but there are ways to help alleviate symptoms.

Varicose Vein Tips:

1) Get your vitamin K. Research shows that people who have varicose veins may benefit from extra Vitamin K, which is found in dark, leafy lettuces, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, collard greens, spinach, strawberries and meat. A diet high in salicylates can inhibit vitamin K absorption. Nuts, fruits and spices are high in salicylates. Aspirin is a salicylate, blocking vitamin K, which is why it's used as a blood thinner.

2) Try a natural remedy. Bilberry extract has been shown to strengthen fragile blood capillaries and to be effective in reducing numbness, burning and "pins and needles" sensation in people with varicose veins. (Check with your doctor before adding any new supplements which may interact with medications you are already taking).

3) Balance your Chi. Acupuncture has been used to successfully treat varicose veins. Acupuncture is an ancient system of healing developed over thousands of years as part of the traditional medicine of China, Japan and other Eastern countries. Acupuncture's origins lie in China and date back over 5,000 years. Today there are over 3,000,000 practitioners worldwide. Click here to find an acupuncturist in your area.

4) Check with your doctor. Many doctors are now using lasers to remove spider veins and sclerotheraphy to treat superficial varicose veins. For the latter, a sclerosing agent (chemical) is injected into the vein to collapse its walls so it can no longer transport blood. In severe cases, the vein may be surgically removed, but no treatment can prevent new veins from becoming varicose.

5) Eat a high fiber diet. Staying "regular" can help alleviate varicose veins. High fiber foods include bran, lentils, black beans, avocado, raspberries, split peas, oats, navy beans and lima beans, to name a few. Foods to avoid include: sugar, salt, alcohol, fried foods, cheeses and processed and refined foods.

6) Hydrotherapy. Alternating between hot and cool baths with epsom salt is believed to stimulate circulation in the legs. You can do this by filling one container with enough comfortably hot water to cover the lower legs up to the knees. Fill another container with the same amount of cool water. Add 2 tablespoons of epsom salt per quart of water to each container. Soak feet and legs in the hot water for three minutes. Then immerse them in the cool water for about 30 seconds. Repeat three times, finishing with the cool. Try this treatment daily for one month. If you have diabetes, do not perform this treatment without checking with your doctor first.

7) Try a workout. Maintaining your overall fitness can help prevent varicose veins from developing. Regular exercise keeps your weight down (obesity can cause varicose veins), stimulates circulation and improves muscle tone. Walking and swimming, as well as gentle leg stretching, are excellent exercises for anyone with varicose veins.

8) Get a massage. A trained massage therapist can alleviate varicose vein discomfort. Find a qualified therapist near you at the Web site of The American Massage Therapy Association, which requires that its professional members:

* Graduate from a minimum 500 in-class-hour massage therapy training program, or
* Pass the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or
* Possess a current AMTA-accepted license to practice, and
* Earn continuing education credit, and
* Uphold the AMTA Code of Ethics.

9) Try yoga. The deep breathing in yoga practice may help alleviate varicose vein discomfort by getting more oxygen into the bloodstream. Also, certain poses promote circulation and drainage of blood from the extremities.

10) Quit smoking. Smoking has been shown to elevate blood pressure, which can aggravate varicosity.

Of course there isn't one treatment that works for everyone, so it's best to check with your doctor or acupuncturist first and get his or her recommendation for your specific case.

"You can say what you like about long dresses, but they cover a multitude of shins." -- Mae West