Varicose Veins and Spider Veins: What Helps Your Legs Day to Day

Visible, winding veins on the legs, a feeling of heaviness in the evening or fine reddish-blue veins under the skin: varicose veins and spider veins are widespread and mostly more of a cosmetic than a dangerous matter - as long as no complaints are added. This guide explains what lies behind it, what does your legs good and when you should have it professionally checked.

What lies behind varicose veins

Our leg veins have a demanding task: they transport the blood against gravity back to the heart. Over the course of the day this system covers many metres of distance upwards, even though the pull of gravity constantly works against it. So that the blood does not sink back down again, small valves sit in the veins that function like check valves: they open when the blood flows towards the heart, and close as soon as it wants to flow back. The return transport is supported by the muscle pump of the calves, which squeezes out the deep veins with every step and pushes the blood upwards.

If the venous valves no longer close properly over time, blood can sink and pool. The increased pressure widens the vein, its wall loses tension, and it becomes visible and winds - this is how varicose veins arise. Spider veins are widened tiny veins just below the surface of the skin that shine through as a fine reddish or bluish net. The whole thing is encouraged by a family predisposition that passes on a connective-tissue weakness of the vein wall, by increasing age, by hormonal factors, by pregnancies, by excess weight and by predominantly standing or sitting activities in which the calf pump barely works. Typical signs are heavy, tired legs, a feeling of tension or pressure, occasional nocturnal calf cramps and slight swelling around the ankle that increases over the course of the day and especially in the evening.

When you should have it medically checked

This text does not replace a conversation with a doctor. Have your legs checked by a vascular specialist (phlebologist) if varicose veins cause complaints, increase rapidly or if the skin changes - for example through brownish discolouration, hardening, eczema-like rashes, itching or even open areas on the lower leg. Warning signs to have checked urgently and immediately are a sudden, one-sided, painful swelling of the leg, an overheated, reddened, hardened vein or acute shortness of breath and chest pain - such symptoms can indicate a serious vascular problem. Recurring inflammations along a vein or a thrombosis that has already occurred once are also reasons to have this monitored more closely. Before a planned sclerotherapy or operation there is in any case always the specialist examination, usually with an ultrasound examination of the veins. These notes apply regardless of everything you do yourself in everyday life.

What you can do in everyday life

The magic word for the veins is exercise. With every step you activate the calf muscle pump, which conveys the blood upwards and relieves the veins. Walking, cycling, swimming and hiking are ideal because they let the calves work rhythmically without jarring the joints. Targeted small exercises also help: rocking the feet from heel to tiptoe, foot circles and alternately curling and stretching the toes set the muscle pump in motion, even when you are sitting at your desk.

Anyone who stands or sits a lot should regularly take small movement breaks, bounce on the spot or walk a few steps - a useful maxim: better to walk and lie than to stand and sit. Elevate your legs above heart level several times a day so that the blood flows back to the heart more easily; a cushion under the lower legs while resting is already enough. Many people find alternating showers and cold rinsing of the legs from bottom to top pleasant and refreshing, because the cold briefly contracts the vein walls. Do not keep your legs crossed permanently while sitting, that throttles the return flow. Avoid very tight clothing at the groin, long sunbathing and hot full baths or sauna directly on the legs if these tend towards it, because great heat additionally widens the vessels. Comfortable, flat footwear instead of permanently high heels and a healthy body weight additionally relieve the veins. Where needed, prescribed compression stockings noticeably support the return transport - the selection of the right class and fit is handled by the doctor.

Nutrition that supports

A fibre-rich diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, pulses and wholegrain products keeps digestion going and prevents constipation, which through hard pushing on the toilet raises the pressure in the leg veins. Drinking enough - water and unsweetened teas spread over the day - is also important so that the blood does not become too thick and flows more easily.

A healthy body weight relieves the veins directly, because every kilo less means less pressure on the legs and the pelvic area through which the blood has to move upwards. Colourful berries, citrus fruits, grapes, onions and dark leafy vegetables provide plenty of secondary plant compounds, including flavonoids, as well as vitamin C. Nuts and plant oils contribute healthy fatty acids. Reduce heavily processed, very salty foods such as ready meals, cured sausage and salty snacks, since too much salt binds water in the tissue and can promote swelling. A balanced, predominantly plant-based diet is thereby a tangible building block for lighter legs.

Nutrients & plants with a connection

For blood vessels and connective tissue, vitamin C above all plays a role: it contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels and contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Collagen is a central structural protein from which the walls of the veins also gain their firmness. Copper contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissue and likewise contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Zinc contributes to the normal function of the skin, which as the outer covering of the legs is often affected too. These nutrients concern the fundamental structures from which the vein walls and the surrounding tissue are also made.

Among the plants, some have a long tradition in relation to the legs: horse chestnut, red vine leaf, butcher's broom, sweet clover and the plant compound rutin from the Japanese pagoda tree are traditionally used in connection with the wellbeing of the legs and veins. Rutin belongs to the group of flavonoids, which in herbal lore have long been associated with the vascular system. Such handed-down applications do not replace medical treatment, but firmly belong to the plant lore around this topic.

Honestly put into perspective

Be honest with yourself here: varicose veins that are already visible do not recede again through exercise, elevation or a change of diet - a widened vein stays mechanically widened. What these measures can achieve is to ease complaints such as heavy legs, a feeling of tension and evening swelling, to slow the progression and to improve your general wellbeing. Anyone who wants to have visible veins removed or suffers from complaints is in the right place in a phlebological practice, where depending on the findings sclerotherapy, laser or a small procedure come into question. Everyday levers and medical treatment are therefore not an either-or, but complement each other: consistent everyday care makes the legs lighter, specialist medicine takes care of the visible veins themselves.

Suitable products from Scheunengut

If you want to accompany your legs with a combination of traditionally valued plants and selected nutrients, you will find with us the Venenkraft Rutin-Sweet Clover Complex with horse chestnut and copper. Copper contributes to the maintenance of normal connective tissue. It is a food supplement that does not replace a balanced diet, sufficient exercise and medical treatment.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I get rid of varicose veins again through exercise?

Existing varicose veins do not recede through exercise, because a widened vein stays widened. But exercise can ease complaints and favourably influence the progression, because the calf pump supports the return flow.

What is the difference between varicose veins and spider veins?

Varicose veins are widened, often winding larger veins, while spider veins are very fine, widened tiny veins just below the surface of the skin. Spider veins are mostly a purely cosmetic matter.

Do elevated legs really help?

Elevating the legs above heart level makes it easier for the blood to flow back to the heart and is experienced by many as relieving. Several times a day for a few minutes is a simple everyday lever.

Are varicose veins dangerous?

Mostly they are above all a cosmetic and comfort matter. Warning signs such as sudden painful swelling, overheated hardened veins or skin changes should, however, absolutely be medically checked.

What role does body weight play?

A higher body weight means more pressure on the leg veins, which is why a healthy weight relieves the veins. In combination with exercise this is an effective everyday lever.

Do compression stockings help and from when are they sensible?

Compression stockings exert pressure on the legs from outside and noticeably support the return transport of the blood. Whether and in what strength they are sensible is decided by the medical prescription after examination.

Which nutrients have a connection to the blood vessels?

Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels, copper to the maintenance of normal connective tissue. They do not replace medical treatment.