Stress can come from anywhere, and no one is immune. Everyone experiences a little bit of stress every day, whether it’s from something big like work or something small like a speeding ticket. All that stress can have a serious effect on your health, particularly your veins. Check out these stress management tips to help you regulate your stress and stay healthier, longer.
Managing Stress for Better Vein Health
Stress has a way of making preexisting medical conditions worse. It takes a physical toll on our bodies in a variety of ways, such as high blood pressure, sleep problems, weight gain, and more. Many people deal with stress in unhealthy ways, like overeating, smoking, and avoiding exercise.
Vein disease is hereditary, for the most part, but there are a few external factors that can lead to weakening venous walls and the formation of varicose or spider veins. Pregnancy, excess weight…and stress. Poor stress management can have a devastating effect on your veins, causing extra pressure in your veins that makes it hard for blood to flow and your veins will become swollen and painful.
Learn to Cope with Stress
More and more people are starting to realize that practicing healthy habits will not only benefit their overall physical health but help with their stress management, too. A lot of the bad health habits that result from stress also lend themselves to aggravating vein disease. If you can practice better stress management, you have a better chance of keeping your veins healthy long term.
1. Exercise
If you’re already stressed because you’re busy, it may seem like adding an hour to two in the gym every week to your schedule is a terrible idea. However, exercising releases endorphins that work to banish the negative effects of stress in your body. Low impact movement like taking walks or choosing the stairs over the elevator also encourages blood circulation, which will help if you already have varicose veins.
2. Take It Easy
Use a few minutes every day to just breathe and focus on putting everything in perspective. Breathing exercises can help calm your heart rate and keep your blood pressure from boiling over. Lower blood pressure won’t necessarily prevent varicose disease if you have a family history, but it will certainly keep unnecessary pressure off your veins.
3. Watch What You Eat
We all reach for comfort foods when we’re feeling stressed. Sweet, salty, savory – everyone has something that makes them feel better. However, overeating and the weight gain from it will not only add to your stress; it will put more stress on your veins, exacerbating any present or future risks for varicose veins. Try to reroute your junk food cravings towards healthier alternatives to prevent overeating and water retention.
Consult a Professional
If the stress in your life is keeping you from living it fully, don’t be afraid to get professional help. If you’re worried about your predisposition for vein disease, come see us at Summit Skin & Vein Care in Lee’s Summit. We provide free vein screenings and vein treatment options for a variety of vein concerns. There’s nothing wrong with being proactive – make an appointment with our vein team today!