Are you young and healthy? When it comes to our health, we might have some priorities. Vein health may seem inconsequential at first, but as you get older, its importance becomes apparent. Your veins can be an obvious sign of your age and you can easily avoid this if you take care of them while you’re young. And if you aren’t, it’s better to address vein problems sooner rather than later.

Two of the most common issues that you might encounter regarding your veins are varicose and spider veins in Singapore. While it might be a common issue for elderly people, it isn’t impossible for someone younger to have them. Additionally, if you keep healthy vein habits, you can decrease your chances of developing them.

Let’s learn more about spider and varicose veins.

What are spider veins and varicose veins?

Treatment for spider veins may be similar to varicose vein treatment in Singapore. Varicose and spider veins are both abnormally dilated blood vessels that appear on your legs. The two vein types are both easily seen underneath the skin. They can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition that you need to address. Both of them are caused by malfunctioning valves in your blood vessels, causing a disruption in the flow of your blood.

Some people like to use these two terms interchangeably, but there are differences between these two. Here are some things you need to note about the two.

Spider veins

Spider veins are also called thread veins. They are smaller, more superficial blood vessels that sit closer to your skin. Spider veins are a condition that affects your capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in your entire body. They’re called “spider veins” because they can appear weblike on your skin. They mostly appear on your face and legs, but they can appear on other parts of your body. Spider veins can be dark purple, blue, or red.

Varicose veins

Like spider veins, varicose veins in Singapore are also twisted and branched. They may create a weblike appearance on your skin, too. However, varicose veins refer to larger veins deeper in the skin than spider veins. They tend to bulge and feel swollen to the touch. They usually develop near the legs and are dark purple or blue. Varicose veins can tend to be painful.

While there are many differences between varicose veins and spider veins, the methods for treating these two are similar.

What causes spider veins and varicose veins?

Learning the root cause of spider and varicose veins in Singapore can help you know more about what puts you at risk and whether you’re in a high-risk situation. Certain habits can worsen the symptoms of spider veins, while certain groups are at higher risk of developing them due to genetics and their physical conditions. Here are a few things that can cause or exacerbate spider veins.

1) Pregnancy. People who are pregnant tend to gain weight quickly over a short period. This can lead to more pressure on your leg area, and the veins of your legs may enlarge or swell up. Because of this, women tend to be more likely to succumb to varicose veins.

2) Smoking. Are you a regular smoker? Here’s yet another side effect that makes smoking not worth it. Smoking can damage the walls of your veins and weaken the valves. Your veins may not be able to fully close and open, leading to more blood pooling in your legs. Pooled blood in your veins leads to varicose veins in Singapore.

3) Obesity. Overweight people tend to be more prone to spider or varicose veins. Just like how pregnancy can add more weight and pressure to your legs, so does extra fat and muscle. More pressure on your legs means that veins have to work harder to pump blood in that area, leading to spider veins appearing on your legs.

4) Sitting or staying in one place for long periods. If you keep still for a long time, the veins in your legs may not get enough blood as it is supposed to. Your vein valves may start becoming faulty. People who have done this continuously over the years may be at higher risk of developing spider veins.

How can I prevent spider veins and varicose veins?

When you have spider and varicose veins, there’s not much you can do aside from visiting a vein clinic in Singapore to get treatments to reduce their size. But you might want to see if you can prevent the development of spider veins before you reach that point. Here are some things you can do.

1) Do a healthy exercise routine. You not only keep the blood in your body running, but you can also shed a few pounds in the process. Maintaining a healthy weight can decrease your risk of spider veins.

2) Wear compression stockings. Are your veins starting to hurt? Do you feel a heavy swollen feeling in your lower legs? Then maybe you should use compression socks. These can apply gentle pressure to your legs in just the right way. For maximum relief and effectiveness, keep your legs raised.

3) Eat a healthy diet. What kind of food are you eating? Some ingredients in food can cause your blood to thicken, which isn’t good for people who have varicose veins. Instead, create a diet that helps promote good circulation of the blood and avoid blood thickeners.

4) Ditch the bad habits. Smoking and overeating can contribute to poor vein health. Ditch the bad habits as soon as possible.

Cheng SC Vein and Endovascular can help you treat issues regarding your vein health. Learn more about how to get proper spider vein treatment in Singapore when you check out their clinic.