Licensees and barstaff who spend a lot of time on their feet risk developing unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins, but the problem can be avoided with a little daily care.
Dr Paula Franklin, assistant medical director at BUPA advises.
If you spend time behind the bar wishing you could put your feet up, here's another reason to find the time - you might save yourself the trouble of varicose veins. Like anyone who stands for long periods, licensees run the risk of developing these unsightly, raised veins on the surface of the leg.
Men as well as women can be affected, but there are a number of ways you can help prevent and ease varicose veins before they become troublesome - so put your feet up and read on.
Varicose veins usually appear first on the back of the calf, but can also be found anywhere along your inside leg. They're blue, often look wriggly, and are most easily seen under the skin when you're standing. They appear because when you're on your feet, gravity makes it more difficult for the veins to get the blood back to the heart. The blood in the veins puts pressure on the one-way valves inside the veins in the leg.
If the pressure gets too much and the valves break, blood gathers in pools in the veins, making them varicose veins. Rarely, varicose veins can be due to an old blood clot in the leg. This is called deep vein thrombosis.
Symptoms
The first symptoms are often the unsightly raised veins themselves. Your calves might ache when you stand, especially at the end of the day, and the skin over the veins might itch. Your feet and ankles, and even the whole leg, can swell up as the day goes on, especially in hot weather. You might suffer from agitated legs and cramps at night. None of which is a recipe for being sociable and outgoing with your customers during long opening hours.
While varicose veins in themselves are not a major cause for concern, you should see your GP if they start to trouble you. In more severe cases, the veins can get infected or inflamed. Ulcers can develop - usually on the inside of the leg, just above the ankle.
Relief
In the main, though, you can manage and relieve the most common symptoms of varicose veins by:
- Avoiding standing up for too long. (Keep a stoolbehind the bar for a sit-down when you're notserving).
- Putting your feet up when you can. (This needn't be too obvious if you clear a shelf behindthe bar).
- Not crossing your legs while sitting.
- Strolling up and down behind the bar at every opportunity or getting out from behind the bar and walking around - collect a few glasses on the way if you need an excuse.
- Spending a few minutes every half hour circlingyour ankles, curling your toes and clenchingyour calves to keep the circulation going.
- Maintaining a reasonable weight for your height.
- Taking regular exercise, especially walking.
- Wearing support stockings or socks, which are tighter at the ankle to encourage blood flowback up the leg. We're not talking Nora Battyhere - today's versions come in various styles and colours.
- Eating plenty of roughage in your diet to help avoid constipation, as this can make theproblem worse.
There are various simple operations to treat varicose veins if you're troubled by them. The surgery might not even involve a hospital stay. Your GP will be able to advise you on treatment options. But for many people, varicose veins can be avoided with a little care as part of your daily routine.