For the one in five Brits with varicose veins, covering up with trousers has long been a go-to.
But in the midst of a third heatwave, that option is gone. With high temperatures making varicose veins worse, finding ways to ease the symptoms at home can be crucial.
Varicose veins are twisted veins under the skin, typically affecting the legs. They occur when the tiny valves in the blood vessels become damaged, causing blood to pool in the legs and the veins to bulge out and swell.
They can affect anyone from their teens to their nineties, but those in their forties and fifties are most as risk, as are those who a pregnant, carry excess weight or stand for long periods of time during the day.
‘A lot of symptoms of varicose veins manifest themselves in the warmer weather,’ says Ed Sideso, consultant vascular surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and Circle Reading Hospital.
‘You get almost an increased blood flow to your peripheries (areas like the limbs or skin) and increased swelling in the legs if they’ve got varicose veins.’
So what can you do about it? Procedures to seal off damaged veins – carried out under local anaesthetic – are long-term solutions, but only a handful of patients are eligible.
Here, two top experts reveal science-backed remedies you can try at home for short term relief.
People in their forties and fifties are most likely to have varicose veins
Try sitting in a cold bath for 15 minutes
Being in cold water temporarily causes vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of the blood vessels. This can reduce the swelling, pain and inflammation caused by varicose veins, while being submerged in water can relieve pressure on the affected areas.
Particularly while it’s hot, ‘you can go and have a nice cold bath, or get in a swimming pool, because that way you’ll not only cool down, but the pressure of the water is the same’ (as that of the affected areas), says Professor Mark Whiteley, venous surgeon founder of the Whiteley Clinic and author of Why Varicose Veins Come Back And How To Stop Them.
Whether you’re sitting or lying down, the water should be in line with or above your heart, he advises.
‘It’s the perfect graduated compression sock,’ he adds, as compression socks put pressure on the lower legs, improving blood flow and aiding swelling.
Compression socks put pressure on the lower legs, improving blood flow and aiding swelling
In the heat especially, this can be a far more comfortable solution than applying tight garments, with the ideal soaking time being around 15-20 minutes.
Pills made from plants could help ease the swelling
Flavonoids are natural plant compounds found primarily in fruits and vegetables like blueberries, kale and red onion.
But you can also get concentrated versions in tablet form, known as flavonoid pills or Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction (or MPFF).
And, according to Dr Sideso, these can ease symptoms.
‘They help with the swelling that you get in your legs. There is some evidence to suggest they may help with the aching and discomfort.’
Plant chemicals are thought to be capable of reducing inflammation by improving blood flow. A 2019 paper published in the journal Advances in Therapy found that MPFF alleviated symptoms ‘including leg pain, leg heaviness, sensations of swelling, cramps, and functional discomfort.’
Flavonoid pills are more widely used in Europe, and in some cases are defined as a drug (rather than an over-the-counter supplement), which needs to be prescribed. In the UK, they can be purchased online.
Sideso notes that while flavonoid tablets may provide some benefits, they are not a long term cure. ‘I don’t think they’re harmful, but do they absolutely do good to everybody? I can’t say they will.’
Take a 30 minute walk each morning and evening
‘When it comes to vein health the best exercise that I can recommend is walking,’ Sideso says.
‘The reason walking is so good is that it uses your calf muscles, which act as a pump within your leg and help venous return’ – the flow of blood from back to the heart’s right atrium.
Activating the calf pump mechanism – sometimes called ‘the second heart’ – is particularly helpful for those with symptoms like swelling or heaviness in the legs.
Getting in a short walk at the beginning and end of each work day – even if you’re only on your feet for 20-30 minutes in total – is ‘really quite useful in maintaining good venous health,’ says Sideso; as is ensuring you don’t spend too long in a sedentary position.
‘When people sit for long periods of time, they’re not using those calf muscles, and therefore you get less flow within the veins, which can ultimately lead to problems.’
