Approximately half of the United States population suffers from debilitating varicose veins.  These dilated blood vessels usually occur in the legs.  They are often caused by increased pressure in the veins which, after time, can weaken the walls of the vessel.  This, in turn, causes the vessels to bulge as blood pools in certain parts of the vein.  While many people who are affected by varicose veins only have a minor case of unsightly appearances, others have a much more severe reaction.  The bulging purple veins can be excruciatingly painful, and can make it hard for people to complete their daily tasks.  Luckily, there are ways that people can prevent varicose veins from occurring.  Here are some tips given by leading medical professionals on ways you can strengthen your vessels, and avoid being plagued with the occurrence of varicose veins.

1. Exercise:  Not only does exercise strengthen the circulatory system, it improves overall blood circulation to the entire body.  When the blood is able to move through the vessel walls smoothly, varicose veins are less likely to occur.  Regular exercise also has many other positive health benefits, such as lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol, and muscle strength.
2. Avoid standing for long periods of time:  As you stand for an extended period of time, increased pressure is put on your legs and feet.  This causes blood vessel walls to weaken.  Due to the fact that standing is a requirement in various work environments, it is a major culprit of cases of bulging veins.   If you need to stand for a long time period, try moving around as often as possible.  You may even want to wear support stockings in order to minimize the pressure being put on your vessels.
3. Lose Weight:  People who are overweight are putting extra pressure on the vessels in their legs.  By practicing healthy eating habits and exercising regularly, you will have many positive health benefits.
4. Put your feet up:  If you are on your feet all day, take some time to elevate your feet and relax your legs.  Try to raise them level with your heart.  This will allow gravity to release some of the pressure put on your legs all day.  Not only will this help to prevent your blood from pooling within your vessels, but it is a great way to relax and reduce stress levels.
5. Quit Smoking:  It isn’t surprising that smoking has a negative effect on your blood pressure.  High blood pressure leads to varicose veins in many individuals. The nicotine found in cigarettes can also help to create plaque along the walls of the vessels.  This can limit the blood flow, and create bulging.
6. Watch out for high heels:  Rethink your footwear when it comes to high heels.  Opt for a more comfortable flat shoe.  Not only will your feet be happier, but your leg vessels will be too.
7. Don’t cross your legs:  Sitting properly with your feet on the floor will help to improve circulation.  Many women cross their legs while sitting, which can restrict blood flow from and to the legs.
8. Limit birth control pills:  Long-term use of birth control pills that have high-estrogen levels are thought to alter the functioning of the circulatory valves.  Weakened valves often fail at pushing the blood up toward the heart, against the force of gravity.
9. Compression Stockings:  Although compression stockings are often worn after certain surgical procedures, they work great for protecting your legs against varicose veins as well.  They reduce pressure in the legs by offering medical grade compression.  As these stockings come in various compression levels, you will want to talk to your pharmacist or doctor before purchasing a pair.  They can help you determine which compression is best for your legs.
10. Medical Treatments:  If your varicose veins have become painful, there are medical options available to reduce the incidence, as well as remove current vessels.  Treatments are able to stop new varicose veins from forming.  There are also procedures that can reduce the appearance and size of existing varicose veins.

Many times, varicose veins can indicate a more harmful underlying condition.  It is important to see your doctor right away if you are having painful varicose veins.  Most insurance will pay for varicose vein treatments, as the occurrence of these veins may lead to more severe health problems.

Lawrence Reaves  is a contributing author for Cardiac Vascular & Thoracic Surgery Associates (CVTSA) a Virginia based surgical group specializing in robotic, open heart and varicose vein surgeries.

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Not only can moving be stressful on you and whoever else you’re moving with, but it can also be extremely stressful and confusing for your pets. While you might not think there’s much you can do to make this process more comfortable for your pets, there are several ways to make moving easier on both you and your furry friends. Here are the top six tips for moving with a pet.

Update your pet identification tag

The first thing that you should do when planning on moving your pet to a new location is to update his or her identification tags. An appropriate ID tag should include the pets name, your phone number, your current address and any other information that you think is necessary for getting in touch with you.

Ask for veterinary records

Before you leave your current location, make sure you contact your local vet to have your pet’s records and copies of vaccinations. You can also have your vet provide your pet’s medical history to give to your new vet if you prefer to have the hard copy. Don’t lose your vet’s phone numbers in case you need to get in touch with them in the future for more information about your pet.

Keep medications and food on hand

If your location change is large, making sure you have the appropriate foods and medications for your pet in case of an emergency is very important. Since vet’s are unable to write prescriptions without a prior doctor/patient relationship, be prepared in advance so you don’t run into any issues. Another option is to ask for an extra prescription refill before you move so you have it just in case.

Seclude your pet from the chaos

Just like people can sense when someone’s leaving or something big is happening, pets can just as well. As soon as boxes come out and the current setting starts looking more and more bare, pets can become very uncomfortable and vulnerable, especially on the actual day of the move. Keep them in a safe and quiet area so that they’re not exposed to all of the commotion of the moving.

Play it safe in the car

While traveling in the car with your pet in a crate is the safest, the second-best option is to use a restraining harness. You want to make sure they’re safe and secure to a spot, and if you’re traveling with your pet in a car full of your belongings, it’s imperative to know that there’s no chance of anything falling on him or her.

Prep the new home for your pet

In a new surrounding, a pet can be scared and confused. When you finally get to your new location, immediately set up all the familiar and necessary things your pet will need. This includes food, water, medications, bed, litter box, toys, etc. Also, since this is a new space and your pet isn’t used to it, keep an eye on them when they first start exploring. This way, you’ll know if there are any spots that are dangerous for your pet and you can fix the situation immediately.

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•  License: Creative Commons image source

Jackie Ryan is a freelance writer who just recently relocated to a big city. Aside from making sure her two dogs were comfortable with the move, she hired a company to help with the heavy lifting. They even used platform trucks for her heaviest furniture, which made the move much easier.

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More and more families can’t find the time to just be together. A lot of parents are too involved in their work that they fail to check on their children, and some children do not feel motivated to reach out to their parents. When this happens, family problems start to manifest and a rift in the relationship will slowly develop.

To avoid such heartbreaking consequences, it is essential for both parents and children to find time to reach out and be a part of each other’s lives. The best way to spend time together is through fun family bonding activities. Such activities will help build and re-establish the closeness and connection among family members. There are bonding ideas that are quick and simple which is perfect for busy parents.

Bonding Ideas For The Whole Family

1. Family Camping

   This is a great idea to help you and the whole family get away from your busy schedules. This is also an excellent idea to get your children off their cell phones or other gadgets. Camping with the family is far from being a boring activity since there are a lot of things you can do, such as hiking, fishing, kayaking, and building campfires. You can even roast marshmallows at night while the campfire is burning bright. Not only will you enjoy spending quality time with your children, but your children will also take with them a lot of fun memories.

2. Sun, Sand, and Water

   Spending the weekend at the beach is also a fun activity which your children will surely enjoy. You, your spouse, and your children will be able to enjoy the sun, sand, and water without the need for extensive preparations and expensive costs. While on the beach, you and your children can build sand castles or collect sea shells. A lot of water parks also offer other amenities that can keep the entire family entertained throughout the duration of your stay.

3. Visit National Wildlife Parks

   Children love to watch animals; however, the zoo is not particularly a good place to take them with all the animals placed in too small cages. If your children really want to see exotic animals, you can take them to a national wildlife park near your area. This kind of wildlife park allows you and the whole family to interact with wildlife in their natural habitat. Your children will get to see how these animals behave in their natural homes. Some parks even allow the visitors to feed the animals, such as bottle-feeding the cubs. This is an excellent experience because it will help educate the entire family regarding the importance of wildlife conservation and protection.

4. Go On An Adrenaline Pumping Adventure

   Doing activities that gets your blood rushing is definitely a must for instant family bonding. Activities, such as zip lining, rock climbing, wind surfing, or riding on a hot air balloon, are fun and cool activities which will keep your children entertained. These activities will help create fun memories for the whole family which will stay with them for years.

5. Road Trip

   Going on a road trip is an excellent family bonding idea. You can go on a cross-country trip taking only some essential things, such as a change of clothes, sleeping bags, and other necessities. You can also get food from a drive-thru and eat your meals inside the car while it is parked at the safe side of the road. While eating, you can watch cars pass by or watch an ongoing construction. A road trip with the family is a great opportunity to talk to your children since the closeness of the vehicle encourages conversation and family bonding.

These five family bonding ideas are not very elaborate; thus, it is perfect for busy parents. If you are finding it hard to spend quality time with your family, you can simply take the weekend off and consider the ideas listed above.

Citations:

• Image courtesy of photostock/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Family_g212-Family_Playing_Football_p41679.html

Kris Lim is a working wife and mother; thus, she knows how hard it is to find time for the family. For this reason, she lists down easy, fun, and cool family bonding activities. These tips are for busy parents who are in need of more info regarding the different activities they can do with their children.

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