Nursevillage.com - Career Resources : The Curse of the Nurse

In the beginning, all the walking and standing of daily nursing tasks constructed nice, shapely legs. The kind of legs you were proud to sport at the community pool in the summers. But, after time, poor circulation started to plague your once show-stopping appendages. The dreaded blue-green bulging veins wreaked havoc on your fashion sensibility and your health.

Healthy veins are lined with fish scale-like valves that all point in the same direction, which keeps blood flow also moving in the right direction. Unhealthy veins lack the strength of healthy valves. These weak veins permit blood to reverse flow and collect. The pooling of blood results in the bulging you see when looking at varicose veins.

Although this unsightly occurrence is often caused by genetics or hormonal fluctuations, they can also be caused by frequently lifting heavy objects, obesity and even pregnancy. Other contributing factors include repeatedly crossing your legs, standing for long periods of time and not getting enough exercise.

Besides their unattractive appearance, varicose veins can be painful. Blood and other fluids may leak out of the vein and into surrounding tissue causing edema, itchiness and scaly skin. If you chose not to treat this condition, it may worsen over time, resulting in the need for invasive surgery.

Before you waste valuable time and money, there are a few steps that can prevent and even rid your legs of varicose veins forever. First, make sure not to sit or stand for to long, and try not to cross your legs too much, which can cut off circulation. Also, avoid tight clothing, shoes and jewelry that might cut off circulation. When you sleep, and whenever possible, elevate your legs to increase blood flow. These minor changes increase circulation, which is the key to healthy veins.

Vitamin supplements can also help strengthen vein walls. Vitamin C and E in addition to low-impact exercise will not only improve the health of your whole body but will reduce your chances of unpleasant varicose veins.