Signs that your veins need help
There are several physical signs that your veins need help to return the blood from your lower leg. These include:
- Tired, aching, sometimes painful legs, made worse by standing or sitting for long periods of time and relieved by putting your feet up.
- Swollen ankles at the end of the day.
- Spider veins – tiny blood vessels visible just under the surface of your skin.
- Bulging varicose veins caused by blood pooling.
- Itchy, hot, or discoloured skin – the colour may vary from brown through to blue/black.
- A wound or sore on your leg, which does not heal or is very slow to heal – known as a venous ulcer.
How to help your veins
There are a number of things that you can do to help your veins, including:
Compression hosiery
- Using graduated compression stockings and socks to help push the blood back up towards your heart
Lifestyle changes
- For example changes to your diet and taking regular exercise
Helping you to protect your legs and feet from further damage.