Treatment and prevention entail the following common sense, self help approach. Treatment includes raising your legs when sitting. This may help reduce the pain, swelling and may help prevent getting varicose veins at all. When sitting watching TV or reading or even at the computer, try to remember to put your feet up on a chair or footstool, the higher the better. This will help the blood to recirculate back into the body. Another thing that can be done is to get custom fitting support stockings. While they are not very attractive, you could wear them under pants and when at home. Prevention of varicose veins includes the following recommendations:
-take breaks from standing, especially if you have a job where you stand all day, mostly in one place. Raise your feet on a stool, one at a time, switch sides and move around when you can. Walking is better than standing still all day.
-wear your support stockings or pantyhose
-avoid wearing tight knee hose or knee socks, and tight girdles which all impair circulation.
-take short walks during the day; walk on your lunch break. Do calf pumping and make circles with your ankles during the day. -avoid sitting with your legs crossed
- each day lie on the floor or bed near a wall. Put your feet up on the wall. Lie there for at least fifteen minutes each day. This will allow some or most of the blood that has pooled down in your legs to move out of the legs and back into the body. It is also very relaxing and destressing. Take a catnap or read a book while doing this exercise, if you like.

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