Does Too Much Sun Make Varicose Veins Worse?
As the temperatures heat up, Central Valley residents will look for ways to beat the heat - or at least make the most of it. If you have varicose veins, though, summertime presents difficult choices. While you may want to spend some time soaking up the sun, exposing your legs to the sunlight can have unintended consequences.
Patients with varicose veins should be aware that heat makes the symptoms of varicose veins worse, and may even cause varicose veins or spider veins in those who don’t have them. Why is this? It all has to do with how our bodies react to intense, prolonged heat.
Why is Heat Bad for Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins occur when the valves in leg veins responsible for pushing blood back to the heart become damaged and can’t move blood effectively. This leads to blood pooling in the vein, which causes the uncomfortable and unsightly symptoms of varicose veins.
Heat causes veins to widen as blood is brought to the skin’s surface to cool down the body. In veins with already-faulty valves, this excess blood enlarges the veins even further and heightens the swelling, achiness, and “heavy” feeling in the legs and feet common among varicose vein patients.
Caring for Varicose Veins in Summer
Just because you have varicose veins, doesn't mean you have to sit in the shade all summer. With some simple adjustments, you can enjoy your time in the sun.
Cover Up
You don’t have to wear excessively heavy clothing to stay safe from the sun; while shorts may be out of the question, long, loose-fitting skirts and pants made of light fabrics provide protection from the sun and keep you comfortable in the heat.
Stay Hydrated
Keeping hydrated supports circulation throughout the body, including the vital veins in the legs. And since water prevents the skin from drying out, drinking plenty of H2O may inhibit the development of spider veins.
Exercise
Swimming, walking, and biking all stretch the calf muscles, which promotes regular blood flow from the legs to the heart. Just be sure to work out during the cooler hours and not in the hot midday sun.
Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
A sunscreen or a moisturizer with a high SPF factor blocks the sun’s ultraviolet rays and protects the collagen in the veins and skin, making them less prone to spider veins.
Treating Varicose Veins
These tips will help to alleviate some of the discomfort caused by varicose veins, but the only real cure is to seek medical treatment. Fortunately, today’s treatments are minimally invasive, quick, and require little recovery time. Just think of all the summer fun you’ll have without those annoying varicose veins.
Elmore Medical Vein & Laser Treatment Center is the premier vein specialty medical practice in the Central Valley. Dr. Mario H. Gonzalez and his staff offer years of experience and medical expertise that you won’t find anywhere else. Contact us to set up a consultation appointment.