Both weight gain and sitting for long periods of time can increase your chances of developing varicose veins. With temperatures dropping, many people avoid the outdoors, and as a result, are less likely to engage in physical activity. While binge-watching your favorite TV show may keep you warm this winter, it may also increase your risk of developing varicose veins. To avoid developing venous disorder this winter, it’s important to stay active even when it’s cold outside.

Here are some creative ideas for getting your blood moving this winter without having to stray into the bitter outdoors.

Improve Your Home

The best exercise is the kind that doesn’t feel like exercise. Engaging in a home improvement project is a good way to stay active this winter, and it has dual benefits: it gets you active, and it boosts the look and value of your home.

Take some time this winter to repaint the interior of your home, replace your carpet, or refinish your wooden floors. All of these things will allow you to get plenty of exercise that doesn’t really feel like exercise, will keep you from gaining excess winter weight, and will help prevent varicose veins.

Exercise in Spurts Between Shows

If you’ve been looking forward to winter so you can catch up on your favorite TV series, you should do what you’ve been looking forward to. However, make sure to alternate between sitting and standing while watching your show to prevent varicose veins.

Consider doing small exercises during commercial breaks, or between episodes if you’re watching your show on Netflix or another commercial-free streaming service. Jumping jacks, lunges, wall squats, and jogging in place are all effective ways to build strength, get your blood moving, and prevent varicose veins.

Try Out New Recipes

The last thing you’re probably thinking of when you’re trying not to gain excess winter weight is food, but cooking is another good way to get off the couch and on your feet. As a bonus, the stove and oven will help heat your house, keeping you plenty warm while it’s cold outside.

Search the internet for some new, healthy recipes, and spend the winter cooking and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Hopefully before winter ends, you’ll have found some new favorites to add to your repertoire, and you’ll have avoided being too stationary by spending long periods of time running around the kitchen.

Getting Rid of Varicose Veins

In some cases, no amount of prevention or exercise can prevent varicose veins from developing, and the unfortunate truth is that they will not go away on their own. Some studies have shown that varicose veins are genetic, so if one or both of your parents suffered from them, you may be more likely to develop them yourself even if you avoid gaining excess weight and being too sedentary.

To get rid of varicose veins, you’ll need to have them treated. Treatment may get rid of your varicose veins for good, and you may even qualify for health insurance coverage. To determine your potential treatment costs, get a quote using our cost calculator.