Exercise is powerful medicine. Even a slight increase in daily movement can help improve your health, especially if you are suffering from vein disease. Vein issues like varicose and spider veins can be caused by poor circulation and venous reflux. Exercise helps to pump blood throughout your blood and may reduce your risk of developing vein issues.
Which types of exercise are best for your circulation? The answer is all of them! Anything that gets your blood pumping will help to improve your circulation. Some work a little better than others, especially if you are dealing with the discomfort of vein issues. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Walking/Jogging: Walking or light jogging is one of the most natural forms of exercise to start with, and the easiest to see improvements quickly. No matter where you are on your fitness journey, increasing your daily step count by walking or jogging will help improve your health.
- Yoga: Yoga is another excellent beginner exercise that is easy to do anywhere. It can be especially helpful if you have vein issues because the stretching and bending can provide pain relief from uncomfortable vein issues. These movements are also great for compressing and decompressing your veins, which helps to improve how they function.
- Bicycling: One of the hardest parts of exercising with vein issues can be the discomfort of swollen or heavy legs. Biking is a low impact way to reduce the weight on your legs while still working those muscles and your circulation in the lower half of your body.
- Swimming: Hopping in the pool for some laps is another low impact exercise that can relieve some of the discomforts of vein disease. The water acts as a natural lubricant for your body to ease the pressure so you’ll feel lighter and more capable. If you aren’t ready for laps just yet, try water aerobics or another water exercise class to get started.
- Leg workouts: Your legs contain some of the most massive muscles in your body. Moving and strengthening those muscles is vital, especially if you are at risk of developing vein issues like varicose or spider veins. There are many varieties of at-home bodyweight leg workouts. Simple movements like leg lifts, calf raises, bicycle legs, squats, and other exercises can go a long way. Make sure to make your legs a priority in the gym. Seek the advice of a trainer if you want to try more specific exercises.
Regular exercise is critical in the fight against vein disease. It gets your heart pumping and your blood circulating. The better your body learns to do that, the better your veins will work. Keep in mind that anyone can develop vein issues, even very physically active people, so if you suspect you are at risk of vein disease, see us. We’ll take a look and recommend proper treatments, including regular exercise!