SLUGGISH VEINS are making 7 in 10 women exhaustedo

Varicose veins affect 73% of women, and they’re not just a cosmetic problem: “They can cause draining symptoms in up to 70% of cases,” says Ariel Soffer, M.D., founder of Soffer Health Institute in Aventura, Florida, and a cardiologist who specializes in vein issues. The main role of leg veins is to return blood to the heart, he explains, but if valves in the veins fail it leads to a backflow of blood that causes varicose veins and venous insufficiency, a condition that triggers fatigue, pain and feelings of heaviness in the legs.

Venous insufficiency is 2.3 times more common in women than men. The reason? Pressure created by pregnancy and weakness triggered by hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause make valves in leg veins more likely to fail.

Doctors can ID problems with an ultrasound and advise you on treatments, like lasers and sclerotherapy. In addition, the strategies below can ease symptoms and restore energy.

Wearing knee-high compression stockings eases pain, swelling and heaviness by up to 70%. And they work in as little as 10 minutes, says Dr. Soffer. They provide a form of counterpressure that helps blood flow upward from damaged veins toward the heart, says Norman Chideckel, M.D., director of the Vascular Surgery and Vein Center in New York City.

Dr. Soffer advises choosing 15–20 mmHg of compression. (Find breathable styles at RejuvaHealth.com.)

Move your legs. Calf muscles are so crucial to pumping blood upward, they’re known as “the second heart,” says Dr. Chideckel. He advises walking and cycling for 30 minutes three to four times weekly to strengthen them.