Teachers Day concern: Teachers tend to develop varicose veins

CHENNAI: Sitting may be the new smoking, but standing too comes with its set of longstanding issues, so to speak.
Prolonged periods of standing, especially when it occurs repeatedly over time, increases the pressure within the leg veins and the likelihood of developing varicose veins, say doctors.
And there are people in certain professions like teaching who seem to be affected more because of the number of hours that they spend standing.
“I see a number of teachers developing varicose veins,” says Dr P Mohnish, consultant, Department of Interventional Radiology, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai. Policemen, lawyers, bus conductors, and salesmen too suffer from it.
So, for this Teachers’ Day (September 5) here is some advice from Dr Mohnish.
“Teachers especially stand for long periods of time each day, giving lectures and writing on the board. They may also sit for long periods while developing lesson plans and grading student work. These factors can have long-term effects on the legs and may lead to varicose veins and contribute to more significant chronic venous disease.”
He adds that teachers who wear heels at work put additional strain on their legs and feet which can compromise proper circulation and contribute to blood pooling in veins.
“Unlike arteries, veins contain one-way valves to prevent blood from flowing backward. When these one-way valves don’t work properly, or when the pressure inside a vein is too high, blood pools causing the vein to enlarge and become a varicose vein,” he says.
Here are some things teachers can do to improve leg and vein health, both at work and at home:
Move around. Your body is designed to move. Try walking around the classroom to keep blood circulating or sit for short periods of time, whenever possible, to give your legs a rest. Outside of work, be sure to exercise regularly.
Maintain a healthy weight. Carrying extra weight puts a strain on your body, including your veins. Additional pounds increase the pressure in your veins which weakens the valves, causing them to fail. Losing weight can reduce pain and swelling in varicose veins and possibly slow the development of other venous disease.
Put your feet up while sitting. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to rest your feet by elevating them above your heart to help alleviate pressure and blood pooling that has occurred during the course of your day.
Choose your footwear wisely. Save those high heels for special occasions. Investing in flat, comfortable shoes that provide excellent support throughout the day is a great place to start.