Overview
Varicose veins are blue or purple-colored, swollen or bulging veins that appear near the skin’s surface. Here in this blog, we will share some exciting tips to avoid varicose and spider veins during pregnancy.
Varicose Veins & Pregnancy
Many women deal with varicose veins during pregnancy and have a worse experience with them. Varicose veins cause severe pain or heaviness, and sometimes they give discomfort as well. The skin around the affected area may cause itching, throbbing, and feeling of burning. The pain level is mostly higher at the end of the day, mainly if you have worked hard or have been on your feet the whole day.
How Are Varicose Veins Formed During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, when a woman carries another life inside her, there is a constant push of the uterus in the abdominal area. This pressure in the pelvic area creates tension in the pelvic blood vessels. Due to the, demand the walls of veins expand, and they become swollen. Veins in the lower body are already struggling against gravity to push back all the blood to the heart; when they are swollen, they halt blood circulation in different parts of the body.
You may also notice a mesh of small veins around your ankle, face, or legs known as spider veins. These are called spider veins because they emerge as a spider-like pattern, where small branches are coming out of the center. Spider veins mostly do not cause any discomfort. They disappear after the delivery, but if they don’t go on their own, you can go for various vein treatments once your baby is born.
When these veins are swollen and bulgy, they are called varicose veins, while when they are colored ones, they are known as spider veins. So let us begin with what causes these veins.
How Are Varicose And Spider Veins Avoided?
During pregnancy, spider and varicose veins can be avoided or at least their effect can be minimized, if:
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- The weight is maintained throughout pregnancy according to the BMI of your body.
- A daily walk and active routine.
- Regular exercise reduces the chances of blood clotting or vascular veins in the lower body by maintaining good blood circulation.
- You should always try to elevate your legs to the level of the heart, whenever possible. Or at least you can put a stool in front of you and place your foot on it when you are sitting.
- Avoid crossing your legs or ankles when you are sitting.
- Do not stay in the same position for a long time (sitting or standing).
One may desire to wear tight clothes or tight socks, but try avoiding such garments, which can cause a hurdle in sending back blood towards the heart. The right choice of clothes can thwart selling and save varicose veins from getting worse. You should always put on your shocks when getting out of bed in the morning and keep wearing them all day long to prevent the blood pooling in the legs. You should also try to sleep on your left side as it releases your uterus’s pressure from the veins, and blood can circulate properly.
In the short term, varicose veins usually do not cause any harm. Sometimes they are even not visible properly. Some people develop blood clots near the surface of the skin. If the lump appears, the skin may become red, stiff, and painful. Whenever you are faced with such a situation, call your doctor, because it can get worse. In a few cases, areas around the blood clots get infected, and the sufferer starts to feel fever and chills. You should have an ultrasound of the city affected and begin with the varicose veins treatment or spider veins treatment with thinning blood medication. If not treated on time, clots can travel away to other parts of the body, such as the lungs causing life-threatening diseases.
We want you to feel safe and healthy. Visit Complete Medical Wellness Center today for a consultation.