5 Holiday Habits That Are Harming Your Vein Health 

November is here, and with it, the start of the year-end holiday season. For many, it’s a time of travel, gathering with family and friends, leisure, and indulgence. This lengthy deviation from normal daily structure and routine can lead to:

• Stress-induced behaviors, like emotional eating and excessive drinking
• Less sleep and less exercise, as year-end activities take center stage 
• An “all-or-nothing” mindset, postponing healthy choices to the new year

At Vascular Vein Centers, we know that most people recover from the holidays no worse for wear. But for people with varicose veins, venous insufficiency, a history of DVTs, or risk factors for vein disease — like older age, family history, and excess weight — it’s important to know about, and moderate, the holiday habits that can undermine vein health. 

In this month’s blog, our board-certified experts offer a list of five holiday habits and norms that aren’t good for your veins, along with strategies to offset them and stay healthy. 

Holiday habits that are bad for your veins

During the holidays, certain festive habits and seasonal conventions can strain your veins, potentially worsening conditions like varicose veins or compounding existing risk factors for the onset of venous disease. The five most harmful are: 

1. Prolonged sitting or standing 

Long stretches of inactivity — either when you’re sitting or standing mostly still — can cause blood to pool in your legs and increase pressure on your veins. Whether you’re traveling long distances or you’re in the kitchen preparing large meals all day, regular movement is vital to optimal circulation and vein health.

2. Ditching your daily workout 

Your health won’t suffer if you take a few days off from your usual workout routine over the holidays. However, transitioning from mostly active to mostly sedentary can weaken your calf muscles and make it harder for your leg vein valves to pump blood back to your heart, worsening poor circulation as well as varicose veins.

3. Gaining holiday weight 

Research shows the average person gains around a pound of extra weight over the typical holiday season — and that holiday-related weight gain isn’t usually lost in the new year. Though it may not seem like much, it can add up over time, packing on an average of 10 pounds in 10 years without healthy changes. 

No matter how it happens, extra weight places increased pressure and strain on your veins. To mitigate the risk of holiday weight gain, try balancing indulgent seasonal meals with healthier choices, overall calorie control, and regular exercise.

4. An excess of holiday indulgences   

Even though sugary treats, sodium-rich foods, and alcoholic beverages are to be expected at a typical holiday gathering, overconsuming any of these can stress your vascular system. 

Consuming too much sodium can cause dehydration and water retention, increasing pressure on your veins. Eating too much sugar causes vessel-damaging inflammation, potentially weakening your veins. Drinking too much alcohol can thicken your blood and raise your blood pressure.

5. Wearing tight clothes and heels 

The holidays are an ideal time to dress up and show some personal style. Dressing for vein health means foregoing tight pants, which can restrict blood flow to your legs and impede lower extremity circulation. You should also avoid high heels, which restrict the calf muscle movement that helps the venous valves pump blood toward your heart. 

Support vein health this holiday season

In addition to the “holiday don’ts” of vein health, there are plenty of “holiday dos” that you can proactively practice this season. We recommend:

• Keeping active by taking family walks or doing some light stretching
• Taking hourly breaks to walk around during a long-haul flight or car trip
• Staying hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and limiting alcohol
• Opting for comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and low-heeled footwear
• Eating healthy, fiber-rich foods and limiting your sugar and sodium intake

If you have existing vein problems, we also recommend wearing compression socks as needed and elevating your legs to ease swelling after a long day on your feet. 

Top-rated vascular care in Central Florida

With six offices in College Park of Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Waterford Lakes of East Orlando, Davenport/Haines City, and The Villages, Vascular Vein Centers delivers the best in vascular care for patients across the Central Florida region. 

For more tips on how to protect your vein health throughout the year, contact your nearest office and schedule a visit with our vascular specialists today.