With the holidays upon us, many of us are planning to visit family and friends, which may mean sitting at airports and traveling for hours on end. What many of us do not seem to know is that sitting for long periods of time causes poor circulation, which can lead to unsightly veins that can cause pain and lead to further health issues, if left untreated. Dr. Luis Navarro, medical director of The Vein Treatment Center offers these
tips for optimizing the circulatory system while traveling would include:
· AVOID PROLONGED PERIODS OF SITTING AND STANDING: Walk up and down the plane/train every 1-2 hours, when possible, for 5-10 minutes
· GET EXERCISE: ankle and lower leg exercises, such as ankle rotations
· WEAR GRADUATED COMPRESSION STOCKING: Wear stockings, preferably knee highs with open toe, 15-25mm/hg or 20-30mm/hg
· STAY HYDRATED: Double your water intake when traveling
· AVOID ALCOHOL: Alcohol dehydrates so avoiding alcohol a few days before taking a long trip would be a good idea
· AVOID CAFFEINE: Avoid caffeine while traveling to help prevent poor circulation.
· AVOID CROSSING YOUR LEGS. Leg crossing constricts veins and increases venous pressure.
· WEAR LOOSE-FITTING CLOTHING. Tight garments can restrict the flow of blood to and from the legs.
· ELEVATE YOUR FEET. Raise your feet 6 to 12 inches above your heart whenever possible to assist circulation.
· CONSIDER DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. Vitamins C and E act as antioxidants, which are good for circulation. Flavonoids, butcher’s broom, and Horse Chestnut Seed Extract (HCE50) improve venous circulation and decrease symptoms of venous disease.
Luis Navarro, M.D., FACS, the Founder and Medical Director of The Vein Treatment Center, established in 1982. Dr. Navarro is a General Surgeon, originally board certified in 1976. He is also a senior Clinical Instructor of Surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he was Chief Surgical Resident. Dr. Navarro graduated cum laude from the University of Barcelona Medical School in his native Spain. He is affiliated with Beth Israel Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Navarro is a Diplomate of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American College of Phlebology, International Union of Phlebology, Canadian Society of Phlebology, American Society of Laser Medicine, and numerous other venous-related societies. www.veintreatmentcenter.com
