Preventing varicose veins

Following these steps to help relieve your symptoms and prevent the condition from becoming worse.

• Don’t stand for long periods of time. If you must stand, stand on your tiptoes two to three times each minute.
• Don’t sit with your legs crossed.
• Control your weight or lose weight to take pressure off your veins.
• Exercise, especially walking, to encourage blood circulation in your legs.
• Elevate your legs above the level of your heart for 30 minutes, three times a day.

Varicose vein fact sheet (pdf)