Heart Health
Ask the doctors: What can I do about varicose veins?
Treatment usually starts with compression stockings, which help squeeze blood out of the legs and back toward the heart. The stockings should exert force below the knee, where the pressure that distends and disrupts veins is the greatest. We also recommend weight loss and keeping the legs elevated. Medications are not very useful.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.