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Varicose veins are unsightly, and in some cases incredibly painful.  The appearance of these veins may be caused by prolonged standing, poor circulation, crossing your legs, or even high estrogen birth control pills may do it.  There are plenty of companies claiming to have products that will diminish varicose veins, but your best bet is to prevent.  Here is an excellent how-to from wikiHow that explains 10 ways to prevent varicose veins.

"Varicose veins—gnarled, dilated blood vessels that occur most frequently in the legs—affect about half of the adult population of the United States.  They are generally caused by pressure in the veins that, over time, weakens the vessel walls.  For most people, varicose veins and spider veins (their smaller, capillary-based cousins) are merely unsightly nuisances, but they can also make walking and standing extremely painful, and in extreme cases, they can cause skin ulcers.  While there is no sure way to prevent the formation of varicose veins, there are a number of things you can do to decrease your chances of getting them.

Steps:
1. Exercise regularly. Walking and jogging improve circulation in the legs, and proper circulation helps ward off varicose veins.  Exercise also reduces overall high blood pressure and strengthens the entire circulatory system.

2. Avoid prolonged standing.  Standing in one place for a long time increases venous pressure in the legs and feet, and over time this pressure weakens the blood vessel walls.  Since prolonged standing is almost unavoidable in some jobs, mitigate the harm by shifting your position as frequently as possible, and try to walk around at least every 30 minutes.  If your job can be performed while sitting, see if you can arrange that.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.  If you’re overweight, you put excess pressure on your legs. Exercise regularly and develop healthy eating habits, and you’ll reap a whole host of health benefits, including reduction of your varicose vein risk."  Read More

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