One may have varicose veins for several different reasons. Risk factors for varicose veins include prolonged standing or sitting, contraception, hormonal replacement therapy, obesity, pregnancy, being female, family history, and age.
Risk factors such as age and family history are not easy to get around. Can you prevent varicose veins from developing? Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about these veins forming in the first place. But you can take steps to keep them from getting worse.
You should follow a healthy lifestyle pattern to prevent varicose veins from forming as long as possible.
Here is what you can do to prevent varicose veins.

Don't Sit or Stand for Prolonged Periods

If you sit or stand for too long in one position, it will become harder for blood to go into the veins of your legs. As a result of this, pressure in veins can rise. Blood may then gather around your ankles. Your calves and feet may become swollen and painful. Prolonged sitting may cause several other illnesses too.
If you move more often, then this can be good for blood circulation. If you have to sit for long times at a desk, then you should try to stretch your legs and move them around every once in a while. You can, for instance, bend your knees as though you are marching.
You should elevate your feet for a few minutes each day to improve blood circulation and prevent blood from pooling at the ankles.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Many of the risk factors for varicose are of a kind that you cannot control. As a result, it becomes even more important to adopt healthy lifestyle choices so that veins don't get damaged.
Obesity increases blood pressure inside veins and is thus a cause for varicose veins. So make sure that you eat a healthy diet. Ensure that you include plenty of complex carbs, fruits, vegetables, fiber, and lean proteins into your daily diet.
Also, remember to drink enough water each day since that is important for good blood circulation.

Exercise

One of the best ways to prevent varicose veins is to walk more often. This exercises your legs and thus improves blood circulation in your legs.
You can also try doing yoga since this mode of exercise is also good for promoting healthy circulation. Try practicing yoga poses that lift your feet above the heart. These poses are known as inversions. Examples include the shoulder stand, headstand, and the Legs-Up-the-Wall posture.
Swimming and cycling are other beneficial exercises that you can do for a healthier lifestyle.

Bottom Line

You don't have many choices to stop varicose veins from forming. However, indulging in healthy lifestyle choices like moving around more for better blood circulation and not sitting for too long can help prevent varicose veins from forming.