While standing is a completely natural posture, overdoing it can cause a number of health hazards. Sore feet, fatigue, cramps and general bodily pains are commonly caused by prolonged standing and in severe cases; the problem can even lead to disability.
The health risks of standing for long periods of time are generally associated with neck, pain and leg conditions. And one such condition is varicose veins.
Let’s take a look at how standing can directly cause the condition and what can be done to remedy it.
Pooling of Blood
For some individuals, the blood doesn’t flow smoothly back to the heart due to underlying health conditions, such as thrombosis. Prolonged standing doesn’t allow our body to compensate for the drop and build and blood pressure as we sit and stand. This, combined with the gravitational pull, can lead to blood pooling in the lower areas of the leg, resulting in a higher likelihood of developing varicose veins.
Excessive Strain
Legs muscles are built to sustain body weight and pressure more than other body muscles. However, frequent and excessive strain on the muscles can lead to the build-up of fluid, leg pain, stiffness and swelling. All these factors exacerbate the symptoms of varicose veins and can cause a malfunction in the valves.
Wear and Tear
The normal amount of standing posture is perfectly fine; however, increased standing periods puts unnecessary weight on the body. Standing typically requires a lot of muscular input and the longer you stand, the more your muscles face wear and tear.
Wear and tear in the loaded muscles also lowers the blood flow, leading to a higher risk of varicose veins.
Stretched Veins
Since standing causes the blood to pool in your veins, the overflow can stretch the veins and cause inflammation or swelling. The venous walls begin to lose their strength and flexibility with the constant stretching, resulting in damage to the valves.
The simple remedy for prolonged standing is to keep the leg muscles active by walking around and letting them rest every few hours.
Varicose veins don’t go away on their own and need treatment. While, in some cases, the condition doesn’t cause pain and individuals can carry on with their life as usual, it’s still imperative to address the problems and talk to a doctor.
If you’re looking for a doctor or a specialist of varicose veins treatment in New York City, give us a call at 212-906-9111. Our team also specializes in treating leg heaviness, leg cramps, restless leg syndrome and spider veins.
