Many of today’s careers don’t require much movement.
In the average office job, you’ll probably find yourself sitting for most of the day, only getting up to use the restroom or pour yourself another cup of coffee. Other jobs may have you stand in a single position for prolonged periods, also without significant movement.
Whether you’re standing or sitting, this lack of movement can take a toll on your legs — and the veins within them. Over time, this can not only create significant discomfort, but lead to the development of varicose veins.
We’re practicing vein experts in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. If you’ve been wondering how your job is affecting your vein health, we’ve got the answers you need. In this piece, we’ll go through how your career may be impacting your legs and, if there’s a problem, how you can take the first steps toward fixing it.
How Does Prolonged Standing or Sitting Affect Vein Health?
Your leg veins have a pretty tough job. In short, they are tasked with returning blood to the heart — a process that requires them to fight against gravity. To do this, they rely on one-way valves within the veins as well as surrounding leg muscles to keep blood moving. As you walk, stretch, or otherwise change positions, the natural contractions of your muscles help move this process along.
Standing or sitting for long periods of time can slow things down. Blood can start to pool in the lower legs, increasing pressure within the veins. Given enough time, this pressure can weaken or damage vein walls and valves. This, in turn, increases one’s risk of chronic venous insufficiency, spider veins, or varicose veins.
As this is happening, those who stand all day may experience slightly different symptoms from those who sit. People who sit all day might notice stiffness, swelling, or a heavy feeling in their legs, especially toward the end of the day. Those whose jobs require standing for long periods may experience aching, throbbing, or visible vein changes. In both cases, the underlying issue is likely reduced circulation.
How to Protect Your Veins if You Sit Most of the Day
Desk jobs and remote work have made it more common for workers across many different fields to spend their days sitting.
If you are one of these workers, there are a few steps you can take to preserve your long-term vein health.
The key thing here is “movement.” Simple movements throughout the day, such as standing up, stretching, or even walking for just a minute or two, help activate your muscles and cause your blood to circulate.
Beyond movement, you can also reorganize your workspace to better suit your vein health. Make sure your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees remain at or slightly below hip level, as this can reduce pressure on the legs. Additionally, crossing your legs for long periods can compress veins and restrict blood flow. Instead, adjust your position so you can keep both feet grounded while shifting positions periodically to help maintain better circulation.
How to Help Your Veins If You Stand All Day
There are some jobs that require spending all day on your feet. In these jobs, movement isn’t always an issue — but there are still steps one can take to preserve their vein health.
First, if your job is one that does not require much movement, you should try to add a little exercise into the day however possible. This can be as simple as going for a walk or even just making an effort to shift your weight more often while standing in place.
If you find that your legs are swollen at the end of the day, you might want to consider buying a pair of well-fitting compression stockings. These can not only encourage circulation, but also reduce swelling, fatigue, and leg discomfort during and after the workday.
Finally, it’s important that you wear comfortable footwear. Footwear without proper support or footwear that is too firm can cause problems for your legs in the long term. This is why it’s important to find shoes that both fit you properly and comfortably.
How Can I Fix My Vein Problems?
If you’ve taken these steps and are still experiencing issues, it’s probably time for you to visit a vein specialist.
During our consultation, we’ll walk through all potential issues with your leg veins and how they can be solved. If vein treatment is the best option, we offer a variety of methods for getting the results you need. Best of all, the treatment is quick and low-pain — in fact, the majority of our patients are able to return to work and other activities on the same day.
For more information, schedule a consultation today.
