Stop Leg Pain in the New Year: 5 Resolutions for Better Vascular Health

Ongoing leg pain isn’t something you should ignore, according to our expert team at Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, in McAllen, Rio Grande City, and Raymondville, Texas. But what if you’re uncertain of how to address the problem? 

When leg discomfort is caused by vascular health issues, the first step is working with a medical professional to determine the exact cause. However, there are also steps you can take at home to boost your vascular health and alleviate leg pain. 

In this month’s blog, John Hovorka, MD, and Cynthia Salinas, MD, offer expert insight into the best ways to keep your circulatory system healthy in the coming year. 

What does vascular pain feel like?

Vascular pain usually develops when a condition is interfering with the normal flow of blood throughout your circulatory system. As your heart works hard to pump oxygenated blood into your arteries and throughout your body, smaller blood vessels (veins) carry that blood back to your heart to allow the cycle to repeat itself. 

Because your legs and feet are located so far from your heart, it makes sense that these are common areas for circulatory issues; blood has to travel a longer distance to both reach and return from your extremities. 

Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable sensation of heaviness in your legs. You might notice throbbing or aching sensations that worsen when you’re moving and improve when you rest. Additional signs of vascular health problems include:

• Numbness and tingling
• Sensation of weakness in hands or feet
• Very cold hands or feet
• Abnormal coloration in hands or feet
• Lower extremity swelling
• Foot wounds that don’t heal swiftly

It’s important to see a vascular specialist if you develop any of these symptoms. They can be a sign of a serious and even life-threatening health issue. 

5 Ways to improve your vascular health in 2026

Making small changes to your daily habits can yield impressive results. Let’s take a look at five ways you can boost your circulatory health in the coming year. 

1. Enhance your nutrition

The foods and beverages you choose on a daily basis have a direct impact on your health, including your vascular health. Strive to fill your plate with more whole foods that are cooked in healthful ways. 

Resolving to include more colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals is a great place to begin. You can also cook with extra-virgin olive oil instead of butter or animal fats to reduce your intake of unhealthy saturated fats. Try adding whole grains into your meal planning, and get creative with the multitude of dried beans available at most grocery stores. 

2. Get moving, even when you don’t want to

Staying active is one of the best ways to improve vascular health. But the problem lies in the fact that once you begin to experience vascular issues like pain, swelling, and weakness in your lower legs and feet, going outside and taking a walk can feel like the last thing you want to do. 

Check with your specialist to make sure you’re cleared for exercise, then make daily walks part of your ongoing routine. You may find that taking just a few short walks each day can do wonders to reduce swelling and keep your blood moving more freely. 

3. Find ways to manage stress

Stress is part of life, and it isn’t always possible to avoid stressful situations. But it’s also true that you can develop skills to help you manage stress more effectively — and that you can also avoid many forms of stress with a little planning. 

Explore ways to manage stress on your own. Some people find it helpful to attend yoga, tai chi, or meditation classes. Others visit friends or reconnect with loved ones to stay more balanced in times of stress. Don’t hesitate to work with a therapist during high-stress times, either. 

4. Avoid smoking and all other tobacco products

Tobacco in all forms is known to cause vascular problems. If you’re a smoker, there are a number of great smoking cessation programs out there that can help you quit the habit for good. 

Smokeless tobacco is also problematic, and can impact your vascular health. There is no safe way to consume tobacco, so strive to eliminate it from your life in 2026. It’s also important to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. 

5. See a specialist for vascular pain

The most important step you can take to improve your vascular health is to visit our team at Laser Surgical Solutions, RGV, PLLC, in McAllen, Rio Grande City, or Raymondville, Texas. 

Understanding the root cause of your vascular health problems gives you the information you need to shape a treatment plan. We offer a range of solutions in our offices, but you can also try the steps outlined above to give your vascular health a boost at home. 

Ready to book a visit with our experts? Give us a call today to set up an appointment, or try our easy online scheduling option at your convenience.