Back to School Routines for Vein Health

The summer is winding down and it is officially ‘back to school’ time. That means transitioning out of simpler, mellow summertime living into a more structured, robust school schedule. Earlier wake-up times, long pick-up line waits, and evening activities can leave you scrambling to keep up with your healthy routines. Adjusting to a changing schedule can be hard, but we want to help you remember to keep your vein health a priority.

Here are some simple ways you can start or continue healthy routines throughout the school year.

Stay hydrated by carrying a reusable water bottle wherever you go. The Mayo Clinic reports that adequate daily fluid intake for an adult male is 15.5 cups a day and 11.5 cups a day for healthy adult women. Some, around 20%, of your daily needed fluid will come from the foods you eat, but drinking healthy fluids throughout the day will make up the rest. Staying hydrated will help with your vein health by thinning your blood, making it easier to be circulated through your veins.

Limit your caffeine intake. When mornings start off at the crack of dawn it’s easy to reach for a cup of coffee to get your day started, but too much caffeine can constrict blood vessels and increase your blood pressure. Cutting back on caffeine can help keep symptoms of varicose veins from worsening. Take stock of what you are putting into your body and increase your intake of healthier alternatives.

Include walking in your routine. If you don’t already include exercising in your routine, now is the time to start. Walking regularly can help strengthen the muscles in your calves. These muscles are needed to push blood back up your veins to your heart; when you walk those muscles squeeze your leg veins and keep the blood moving. If you absolutely can not find time to fit walking into your schedule, try rotating your ankles and flexing your calf muscles while you at seated at your desk or waiting in the school pick-up line.

Healthy routines can be a big help to keep the aches and pains that accompany varicose veins at bay, but they aren’t a cure. And while seeing your regular family doctor is probably already a part of your regular routine, if you’re suffering from varicose veins, it’s time to add seeing a vein specialist to your schedule. So, check your calendar and schedule an appointment with Vein Specialist Dr. Eston Wenger today. Give Dr. Eston Wenger a call at Premier Surgical Associates of Cleveland, TN, at (423) 472-5423 or click here to request an appointment online.