Varicose veins are swollen and twisted veins that look blue and are close to the surface of the skin. They are unsightly and uncomfortable. Veins bulge, throb, and feel heavy. The lower legs suffer the most, and sometimes your ankles may swell.

To relieve varicose veins:

• Don't cross your legs when sitting.
  
• Keep your weight down.
  
• Avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. If your job requires you to stand, alternate your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes.
  
• Wear elastic support stockings.
  
• Don't wear clothing or undergarments that are tight or constrict your waist, groin, or legs.
  
• Eat high-fiber foods like bran cereals, whole grain breads, beans, fruits, and vegetables to promote regularity. (Constipation contributes to varicose veins.)
  
• To prevent swelling, cut your salt intake.
  
• Exercise regularly. Walking is a good choice.
  
• Exercise your legs when you are sitting too. Rotate your feet at the ankles, turning them first clockwise, then counterclockwise, using a circular motion. Next, extend your legs forward and point your toes to the ceiling, then the floor. Then, lift your feet off the floor and gently bend your legs back and forth at the knees.
  
• Whenever possible, keep your legs propped up on a footstool or a chair in front of you.

Varicose veins aren't usually serious. If a rash or sores develop on the leg, contact your doctor. (See the discussion of phlebitis in Tip 71 in chapter 2, Major Medical Conditions: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment.)