Can Pregnancy Cause Varicose Veins?
The Connection Between Pregnancy and Varicose Veins When you are pregnant, you feel a range of symptoms that can include everything from morning sickness and food cravings, to swollen feet and frequent urination. However, there is another symptom of pregnancy that is often overlooked called varicose veins. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases while the rate of blood flow in your pelvis decreases. This change in the body’s physiology puts immense pressure on the veins which can eventually cause them to become varicose.
Varicosities during pregnancy commonly occur in legs due to the veins being enlarged. Besides being present in legs, these veins can make you feel uncomfortable, painful, and itchy by being present in your rectum and genital area. Varicose veins can be hereditary as well, so it’s important to talk to family members and your primary care physician about your medical history to determine if you are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins. Now that you know the connection between varicose veins and pregnancy, it’s time to take a deep dive into different ways of managing this common health condition.
Lifestyle Changes 1. Avoid Standing Or Sitting For Long Varicose veins develop when your blood circulation is extremely poor, and one of the primary causes of poor blood circulation is sitting or standing for extended periods of time. To boost your blood circulation, it is better to change
positions or stand up occasionally throughout the day. 2. Exercise Regularly
Most importantly, you need to focus on getting regular exercises. Doing this will benefit the health of your baby and will keep your blood flowing properly throughout your body.
3. Raise Your Legs Frequently If you need to sit in one single position for a longer period, it is best to raise your legs from occasionally throughout the day. That way, some pressure on your veins will be relieved. If your work or health allows, you should go for a short walk; these small occasional walks will help improve your body’s circulation. 4. Sleep On Your Left Side There is a major vein that runs down the right side of your body. To prevent putting additional pressure on the veins, you should get some sleep while lying down on your left side. For improving the blood flow, you can sleep on your left side while elevating your body by putting pillows underneath your ankles and knees.
Dietary Changes 1. Pay Attention To Weight Management
As you will be naturally gaining weight during your pregnancy, you should stick to a healthy lifestyle and maintain a balanced weight during your prenatal days. However, if you are overweight, you should make sure to consult with your primary care physician about steps you can take to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. 2. Eat Plenty Of Fiber Eating more fiber means that you will need to consume more fluids daily for to maintain the health of your digestive system.
3. Watch Your Sodium Levels A diet that is high in sodium will lead to swelling that can eventually pressurize your veins. Which is why, it is advisable to consume food with low sodium. It is best if you can swap high-sodium foods with fresh ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and spices. 4. Don’t Skip Your Prenatal Vitamins Your doctors will mostly recommend that you consume prenatal vitamins every day during the course of your pregnancy. The key prenatal vitamins should include both Vitamin C and A. These vitamins are essential for keeping the health of your blood vessels intact so that they are powerful enough to repair any damage to the veins.
it’s best to get a professional consultation at one of our clinics. Venous insufficiency, also commonly known as vein disease, is an underlying condition that causes legs to feel achy, cramped, restless, or swollen, as well as make walking or standing for long periods painful. Left untreated, this condition can lead to serious health risks such as venous ulcers, skin discoloration, ruptured veins, or blood clots. Here at USA Vein Clinics, Being the largest network of clinics across the country, we specialize in offering non-surgical and outpatient treatments for varicose and spider veins.
Treatments For Varicose Veins: Some of the treatments we offer include Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) or Ultra-sounded Guided Sclerotherapy (USGS) to treat underlying venous insufficiency. All of the treatments that we offer are FDA approved, office-based procedures. To learn more about varicose veins, please visit the “ Causes & Risk Factors“ tab underneath the “Vein Disease” section of our website. If you think you have varicose veins or are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, call 888.768.3467 or click here to schedule your consultation online.