As a teenager, I looked at my mother's varicose veins on the back of her legs and thought that must be from carrying 5 children in her belly over 19 years (bearing 5 kids over 19 years, not carrying them all inside for 19 years!). I did not think they were grotesque. I saw them as badges of honor, a warrior's medal showing on the outside. Other mommas were in the club, with a smile and a knowing wink or nod during the playground meetups with kids, as she and her friends would chat about the whole 10 months of pregnancy and how it changed their bodies. However, they looked grotesque and painful when I saw them on my non-pregnant male friend who was in his 30s. As we chatted about it, I realized that I had not looked behind my own body to check out the back of my legs in a long time because, well, they are behind me!
The more I read into the varicose veins subject, the more I realized that life is an uphill battle for the veins in your legs because they spend much of their time working against gravity, carrying blood from your feet to your heart. Over the years, the valves inside them may weaken, allowing blood to trickle back toward your feet and pool inside the veins. Over time, the superficial leg veins become twisted and engorged, bulging under the surface of the skin, a condition called varicose veins. Varicose veins are a common medical problem, affect everybody of all ages. They can be a cosmetic problem or cause physical symptoms, such as aches, pains, and a feeling of heaviness. If untreated, they may cause leg swelling, skin discoloration, or open ulcers on the ankle or calf. the ankle or on the calf.
The first hint of abnormal leg vein function often comes in the form of spider veins, red or purplish star-burst-shaped clusters of blood vessels, which are visible below the surface of the skin. Spider veins are primarily considered a cosmetic problem, but may also be an early indicator that the larger veins inside the leg aren’t working as they should. Varicose veins sometimes follow, and sometimes not. They become more common as people age, but can occur at any age if it is in the family genes. If you are suffering in any way, consult your doctor and ask for an ultrasound to determine whether the deeper veins are impacted as well.
How to Prevent Varicose Veins1. Get moving. An active lifestyle is key. We need not to just stand rather than sit, but move. Walking, running, biking, hiking, and dancing are the sorts of movements that will keep the circulation revolving around the whole body.
2. Put your feet up. Give your legs a break after moving and also after sitting or standing all day. Put your feet up and support under the knees with pillows. Ice wraps also provide anti-inflammatory relief. This helps to reverse he blood flow and help the veins do their job. It also allows the pressure in the veins to lessen.
3. Pull on compression socks, sleeves, or stockings. These garments fit snugly on your legs, squeezing them slightly to help keep blood moving. Today’s stockings and socks don’t resemble old-fashioned versions. These leg fashions are available in numerous styles, colors, and compression tightness. They are available in over-the-counter versions at a drugstore or medical-grade options through your health care practitioner.
Treatment optionsIn the past, veins were primarily treated using a surgical procedure known as ligation and stripping. Ligation is a surgical procedure to cut off blood flow to the faulty vein. Stripping, or vein removal, followed. Swollen and uncomfortable healing followed. In the past 12-15 years, the way to treat these vein issues has changed. Now there are less invasive treatments.
The procedure is far less common today. Instead, many doctors have switched to less invasive office procedures that leave little to no scarring. Doctors use laser beams or high-frequency radio waves to heat the inside of the vein, damaging it and causing it to collapse. There is little swelling and a short recovery time. The body usually absorbs the collapsed vein within a year afterwards. Other popular office procedures include using a medical-grade glue to close the vein. In another, called foam sclerotherapy, the doctor injects medication into the vein to treat it. A third in-office procedure, called mechanical-chemical ablation, uses a liquid medication along with a rotating catheter to damage the vein and make it collapse.
While spider veins are a cosmetic issue, varicose veins are a medical problem. Treatment is typically covered by insurance. If you have spider veins and/or varicose veins, reach out to your health practitioner for advice.
To Your Greater Health,
KJ Landis
Research for this subject were gathered in part from the Harvard Medical School Health Publishing Newsletter and Journal.
Find me at:
YouTube: SuperiorSelf Channel
Twitter and Instagram: @superiorself
Facebook: Superior Self with KJ Landis
LinkedIn: KJ Landis
The more I read into the varicose veins subject, the more I realized that life is an uphill battle for the veins in your legs because they spend much of their time working against gravity, carrying blood from your feet to your heart. Over the years, the valves inside them may weaken, allowing blood to trickle back toward your feet and pool inside the veins. Over time, the superficial leg veins become twisted and engorged, bulging under the surface of the skin, a condition called varicose veins. Varicose veins are a common medical problem, affect everybody of all ages. They can be a cosmetic problem or cause physical symptoms, such as aches, pains, and a feeling of heaviness. If untreated, they may cause leg swelling, skin discoloration, or open ulcers on the ankle or calf. the ankle or on the calf.
The first hint of abnormal leg vein function often comes in the form of spider veins, red or purplish star-burst-shaped clusters of blood vessels, which are visible below the surface of the skin. Spider veins are primarily considered a cosmetic problem, but may also be an early indicator that the larger veins inside the leg aren’t working as they should. Varicose veins sometimes follow, and sometimes not. They become more common as people age, but can occur at any age if it is in the family genes. If you are suffering in any way, consult your doctor and ask for an ultrasound to determine whether the deeper veins are impacted as well.
How to Prevent Varicose Veins1. Get moving. An active lifestyle is key. We need not to just stand rather than sit, but move. Walking, running, biking, hiking, and dancing are the sorts of movements that will keep the circulation revolving around the whole body.
2. Put your feet up. Give your legs a break after moving and also after sitting or standing all day. Put your feet up and support under the knees with pillows. Ice wraps also provide anti-inflammatory relief. This helps to reverse he blood flow and help the veins do their job. It also allows the pressure in the veins to lessen.
3. Pull on compression socks, sleeves, or stockings. These garments fit snugly on your legs, squeezing them slightly to help keep blood moving. Today’s stockings and socks don’t resemble old-fashioned versions. These leg fashions are available in numerous styles, colors, and compression tightness. They are available in over-the-counter versions at a drugstore or medical-grade options through your health care practitioner.
Treatment optionsIn the past, veins were primarily treated using a surgical procedure known as ligation and stripping. Ligation is a surgical procedure to cut off blood flow to the faulty vein. Stripping, or vein removal, followed. Swollen and uncomfortable healing followed. In the past 12-15 years, the way to treat these vein issues has changed. Now there are less invasive treatments.
The procedure is far less common today. Instead, many doctors have switched to less invasive office procedures that leave little to no scarring. Doctors use laser beams or high-frequency radio waves to heat the inside of the vein, damaging it and causing it to collapse. There is little swelling and a short recovery time. The body usually absorbs the collapsed vein within a year afterwards. Other popular office procedures include using a medical-grade glue to close the vein. In another, called foam sclerotherapy, the doctor injects medication into the vein to treat it. A third in-office procedure, called mechanical-chemical ablation, uses a liquid medication along with a rotating catheter to damage the vein and make it collapse.
While spider veins are a cosmetic issue, varicose veins are a medical problem. Treatment is typically covered by insurance. If you have spider veins and/or varicose veins, reach out to your health practitioner for advice.
To Your Greater Health,
KJ Landis
Research for this subject were gathered in part from the Harvard Medical School Health Publishing Newsletter and Journal.
Find me at:
YouTube: SuperiorSelf Channel
Twitter and Instagram: @superiorself
Facebook: Superior Self with KJ Landis
LinkedIn: KJ Landis
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