Guest Post: Keep Legs Healthy and Beautiful Holiday Traveling Tips

 by Dr. Luis Navarro, 
the director of the Vein Treatment Center
(www.Veintreatmentcenter.com)

With the holidays here, many of us are traveling to see 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.

Here are  effective tips that can help avoid poor blood flow from sitting too long on an airplane, in a car or on a train while traveling for the holidays.

• 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.
• WEAR LOOSE-FITTING CLOTHING:  Tight garments can restrict the flow of blood to and from the legs.
• 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.
•  AVOID CROSSING YOUR LEGS: Leg crossing constricts veins and increases venous pressure.

Related articles

• Healthy Holiday Travel (yourdailythread.com)