During pregnancy there are several factors (hormonal, weight gain, pressure of the uterus on the large veins etc.) that they can cause us circulation disorders, including varicose veins, which are formed before the impossibility of establishing a return of blood to the heart that is effective.
These symptoms, together with swelling, heaviness in the legs, tingling or tiredness, usually subside progressively after childbirth, but everything also depends on our metabolism, the level of severity and the measures that we maintain in this regard, of which we are going today Speak in our Postpartum Care Special.
Habits that will help you feel better
Varicose veins, which usually occur mainly in the legs, are sometimes taken into account as an unsightly phenomenon that must be treated, but when they appear it is mainly health that demands our attention, since they are a symptom of a problem in our system circulatory system that if it continues to evolve can cause us a lot of pain and discomfort.
There are a number of guidelines that help us prevent or treat them in their early stages, among which avoid sedentary lifestyle (or spend many hours standing) and obesity, factors that aggravate the problem.
The venous return is propelled through the muscles of the legs and the plantar pad, so you have to avoid spending a lot of time in the same posture and spend a little time every day to walk and resume soft exercises such as pilates and yoga slowly.
Being seated is better don't cross your legs and to have slightly raised feetLike sleeping, we can lift them lightly by resting them on a cushion or putting something under their mattress, such as a phone book or similar.
Putting your legs up will always give us rest and relief, just like a good stream of cold water at the end of the shower, directed to the legs ascendingly, to activate the circulation.
There are countless reasons to quit smoking, especially during pregnancy, but it is also important not to fall back after delivery, since tobacco increases blood clotting, favoring the appearance or worsening of varicose veins.
Reduce salt intake, food also counts
Fluid retention contributes to swelling of the legs and also affects venous valves, which deteriorate when they begin to perform their function of preventing blood from accumulating in the veins and getting them to flow properly.
Salt favors the accumulation of liquids and many times we consume it almost without realizing it. Our Vitónica colleagues explain some tricks to reduce it in our diet, of which we can highlight replacing it with spices when cooking (in the end it is gained in flavor even if it does not seem like it) and avoid pre-cooked foods since they usually contain a lot of salt to keep better .
Following the advice of postpartum feeding will also be useful, since fruit, vegetables and drinking water have a diuretic effect and will also help us maintain our weight.
The potassium rich foods, such as chard, avocado and banana, balance the effects of sodium and favor the elimination of liquids.
It is also important to avoid regularly consuming foods high in saturated fats that increase triglycerides and blood cholesterol, such as sausages, red meat, butters, whole milk etc. Y reduce the intake of spicy foods, alcohol or coffee that produce dilation of the veins.
Treatments: always advised by a specialist
Depending on the severity of the varicose veins there are plenty of treatments, ranging from the use of compression stockings to surgical interventions, through medication or massage creams, but in no case can they be taken lightly, since their success and absence of complications will always depend on a correct application, which you must indicate the corresponding specialist.
The elastic stockings they do not eliminate varicose veins, but they can serve as a prevention or to relieve symptoms, since through their gradual compression, available at various levels, they activate circulation.
Continuing with the external route vascular creams, cold effect or for tired legs also help reduce discomfort, applying through an ascending circular massage. As internal medication we have the venous tonics, of which there is a great variety, and improve symptoms by increasing tension in the muscular wall of the veins.
Horse chestnut is usually highly recommended for the treatment of varicose veins, but care must be taken since its use is not advisable even for pregnant women, nor to take while breastfeeding. In both cases it is better to consult with the doctor what alternatives we can take.
Among the outpatient processes is thermocoagulation, which applies heat to the vein so that it necrose, laser treatments for the removal of varicose veins or sclerosing agents that apply a puncture with which the vein is annulled.
Finally, it is necessary to resort to the surgical intervention to remove varicose veins, although it is a technique that is increasingly being replaced by less radical alternatives that do not require admission, or several days of rest.
As you can see the treatments are many, very varied and depend on many factors, although most will require wait for a reasonable time after childbirth, so, whether we need them or not, whenever we can, it is also worth putting everything on our side to prevent or prevent the worsening of varicose veins, our overall health will be gained.
