Arteries carry nutrient-rich oxygenated blood to your tissues and organs, while veins return unoxygenated blood to the heart so it can be re-oxygenated and pumped back out.
That’s your lifecycle.
Unfortunately, things don’t always move so smoothly. Stress can be a major impediment to a healthy cardiovascular system and put your veins at risk.
Stress might not directly cause varicose veins or jeopardize vein health. But it can lead to behavior that does. Stress is associated with unhealthy eating habits, drinking, sedentary living, and other factors that can lead to unhealthy veins.
Finding ways to reduce stress and cope with the different challenges your facing can help protect cardiovascular health, and by extension, increase your chances of maintaining healthy veins.
Going out for a walk in a relaxing space can help reduce stress and encourage better vein health. When you’re up and moving, blood is flowing, and it keeps veins relaxed and supple. Spending time in nature is associated with less stress and lower blood pressure.
Relaxation techniques like yoga and tai chi can also help encourage blood flow and reduce stress. The practices focus on breathing and slowly choreographed movements.
Limiting social media and television exposure is another way to ease stress. Instead of keeping a screen in arms reach, disconnect, get outside, or sit and meditate.
Block off screen-free time each day to ensure you stick with the plan.
Taking up a hobby can also help reduce stress and anxiety. When you’re focused on something productive that you enjoy, it’s much harder for negative thoughts to creep in.
For added benefit, try picking a hobby that features an element of activity. Gardening, dancing, building, or other ideas that involve movement may have added benefit for vein health and stress reduction.
Any stress you can take off your heart and arteries can help with vein health. Although there is no surefire way to prevent varicose veins, stress reduction, activity, and a healthy heart certainly don’t hurt.