5 Ways To Keep Your Legs Healthy

Legs take us places. So why are they typically taken for granted? Many people only pay attention to legs when experiencing discomfort or injury. At Pacific Vein Care, we believe a human body part that walks an average of 6000 steps per day deserves more. Instead of neglecting limbs on a daily basis, legs should be appreciated as a magnificent piece of human engineering. Plus, if you don’t take the proper measures, you may experience the wrath of unsightly spider veins and varicose veins. Here are 5 ways to keep your legs healthy.

Obesity: One leading factor that negatively affects legs and often leads to varicose veins is obesity. Excess weight adds pressure to veins, causing them to enlarge and weaken. Losing weight can help take the extra pressure off veins.

Diet: For a healthy, vein-friendly diet, cut back on red meats, dairy products and salt. Some of the best foods for healthy legs include high-fiber foods and healthy fats including olive oil, avocados and beans.

Exercise: Hitting the gym is a great way to tone legs, but improving blood circulation is as simple as walking around the neighborhood. Getting legs up and moving on a daily basis is a great start towards achieving healthy legs.

Avoid Inactivity: Our body is made to move. Sitting or standing in the same position for too long may cause circulation problems in lower limbs. It’s important for healthy legs to have sufficient blood flow. After sitting or standing for long periods of time, stretch to increase circulation.

Seek Treatment for Varicose Veins: Vein Disease is a condition that refers to backwards blood flow in the legs and feet that cause veins to be impaired. If left untreated for a long period of time, varicose veins can cause discomfort and even lead to serious complications. Vein disease can be the gateway for serious health issues. It can put you at risk for blood clots, ulcers, pulmonary embolism and sometimes worse. For your health, it is vital that you eliminate the problem before it becomes deadly.

If you are experiencing varicose veins, spider veins or simply want advice on achieving healthy legs for life, contact the team at Pacific Vein Care today!

Six Tips to Stick with Your Workout Plan

The new year is here! Starting a regular exercise program always seems to be at the top of everyone’s resolution list. With a new workout program comes a plethora of health benefits including weight loss, increased endurance, more stable moods and better overall health. For individuals with varicose veins, low impact exercise such as swimming, walking or biking have the added benefit of increasing circulation and decreasing inflammation - but what do we do when the couch sounds more appealing than the treadmill? Here are six tips to help you stick to your exercise resolution.

1. Put it in writing – Taking the time to write plans out on paper increases your chances of success. Determine the specifics of your workout program, including type of exercise, goals, where you will work out and how often. In addition, create weekly workout plans on Sunday night based on your schedule for the coming week. 
2. Tell a friend – Tell a friend your goals and ask them to keep tabs on your progress. Better yet, ask your friend to join you in your efforts. Added conversation will make the time fly by.
3. Own your goal – Working out with a friend can create added accountability; however, it is important that you own the success of your program. It is not your friend’s job to make sure you are working out, it is yours. They are there for added encouragement, but the drive to succeed needs to come from you.
4. Set attainable goals – Setting goals you cannot achieve can create a recipe for disaster. Set goals that will give you a challenge, yet are still realistic. This will keep you motivated and still give you something to work toward.
5. Set specific goals – Determine measurable results for your efforts. If you want to lose weight or increase the amount of weight you are lifting set a specific goal. Come up with short term (weekly), mid-term (monthly) and long range (three to six months) goals.
6. Reward your achievements – As you start to see success, take some time to recognize all your hard work. Buy a new outfit, get a massage, do something special for yourself (try not to make it food related).

If varicose veins are keeping you from reaching your fitness goals, contact the team at PacificVein Care to discuss your options.