Varicose veins are those unsightly bulging veins that you often see on legs or feet. If you have them, you’re probably aware of the discomfort or pain they can cause—especially after a long day of standing or sitting.
Compression therapy helps reduce the inflammation and pain caused by varicose veins—it also improves poor blood circulation.
Is compression therapy always the best way to treat varicose veins? And how does compression therapy for varicose veins work?
Here are the answers.
What Are Varicose Veins?
People usually find varicose veins—those enlarged and twisted veins—on their calves, ankles, and/or thighs. But they can be almost anywhere on your body. The veins are dark purple or blue and aren’t often a medical concern.
However, for many people, varicose veins are a cosmetic concern; they cause embarrassment when you’re wearing shorts, a skirt, or a bathing suit.
Other times, varicose veins can reveal a budding health issue or even pose a health risk themselves.
Varicose veins are caused by valve problems within the veins. Valves become damaged or weak and blood circulation is affected; the blood begins to pool in the legs and veins enlarge.
Some symptoms associated with varicose veins include:
Swelling in the ankles or legs
A feeling of heaviness in your legs
Itching around the vein area
Achiness or pain in your legs
Skin discoloration around the veins
At times, untreated varicose veins lead to other health issues, including venous ulcerations or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
The weakening of vein walls from chronic vein valve problems is a common cause of CVI. Blood flow toward the heart decreases and instead blood pools in the legs. CVI itself is not life-threatening but can lead to serious health complications including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and leg ulcers.
Factors that contribute to the development of varicose veins include:
A sedentary lifestyle
Being overweight
Pregnancy
Aging
Increased blood pressure in the veins
What is Compression Therapy?
Many vein doctors consider compression therapy to be the first line of treatment for mild-to-moderate varicose veins. They often suggest combining compression therapy with leg elevation or movement exercises.
Compression therapy helps eliminate many of the physical symptoms associated with varicose veins. It can also help with leg or foot discomfort associated with:
Chronic venous insufficiency
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
Pregnancy
Compression treatment is non-invasive; it simply involves wearing compression (elastic) socks, stockings, or wraps. By applying continuous pressure to your legs and squeezing leg muscles, the compression clothing helps push blood upward against gravity, making it easier for blood to flow back to your heart.
This treatment also keeps fluid from building up in the legs, feet, and ankles, prevents blood clots, and helps ulcers heal on the skin.
Your legs will feel:
More comfortable
Less painful
Less tired
Less swollen
Better supported
Wearing the proper compression stockings will also help keep veins from getting worse.
A vein specialist can evaluate your vein health and recommend the exact type and amount of compression that will work best for you. You can purchase some compression stockings over the counter, while others require a prescription.
Compression stockings are also often recommended both before and after vein treatment.
Compression socks may extend to different lengths, from just over the ankle to up to your knee.
If you’re standing or sitting for extended periods during the day, ankle compression socks can keep your feet feeling comfortable.
Manufacturers rate socks to show the pressure they provide.
Units of measurement are listed as “mmHg,” which stands for millimeters of mercury—a measurement of pressure. Compression sock ratings include:
Low—less than 20 mmHg—do not require a prescription
Medium—20-30 mmHg—require a prescription
High—More than 30 mmHg—require a prescription
If you have moderate-to-severe varicose veins, your doctor will probably write you a prescription for compression socks for pain relief and improved circulation.
Compression Stockings
Compression socks are a common type of compression wear. They reach up to the knee. Longer compression stockings (sleeves or tights) are available if swelling goes higher than your knee.
Compression stockings can be rated or not rated for pressure. The socks and stockings should feel comfortably snug but shouldn’t feel overly tight or painful.
Velcro Wraps and Bandages
These compression items are helpful for people who have trouble putting on socks. The elastic bandages often require several layers while wraps can have convenient Velcro closures.
Inflatable garments is another category of compression-wear. Users inflate these devices to a specific amount of pressure. They’re generally used by athletes to reduce muscle soreness and improve blood circulation to speed recovery.
Other Treatments for Varicose Veins
While compression garments usually help reduce discomfort caused by varicose veins, they cannot fix varicose veins or improve their physical appearance.
However, today there are many varicose vein treatments that will permanently eliminate existing varicose and spider veins.
Treatments for the elimination of varicose veins include:
There are some medical conditions that make it unsafe to use compression therapy. One of these conditions is peripheral artery disease (PAD). Here, compression therapy would be harmful since the blood vessels in the legs would narrow and reduce blood flow.
It’s always recommended that you consult your doctor first before you start compression therapy.
We all understand the importance of being good listeners. Actively listening to others creates trust, collaboration, and prevents misunderstandings. But how many of us listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us? Learn how to understand your body to improve your health.
Here are some things your body may be saying. When you listen closely, you’ll find you both speak the same language!
Ways to Listen to Your Body
Keep a Journal
Write in a journal daily and talk about how you are feeling physically. Are you having trouble sleeping through the night or experiencing an upset stomach?
And don’t forget your emotional health. Are you feeling overly stressed or depressed?
Then watch for patterns. Patterns can connect physical or emotional feelings to your diet, other events in your day, or even other symptoms.
Pay Attention to Your Stomach
Do you feel lethargic or bloated after eating? Keep track of the foods you eat and how you feel afterwards.
This can uncover food-related issues, such as lactose intolerance or food allergies. Try removing the disagreeable foods from your diet and see if the symptoms disappear.
If necessary, review your findings with your doctor to discover a possible underlying medical issue.
Listen to Your Digestive System
Your colon may tell you it’s feeling bloated or painful. Or you may need to strain to go to the bathroom.
There are things you can do to make bowel movements regular, including:
Eat 30-40 grams of fiber daily
Eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables
Drink plenty of water—about eight glasses a day
If symptoms persist, contact your doctor.
If your family has a history of colon cancer, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy.
Pay Attention to Allergic Reactions
Do you commonly experience:
Sneezing and/or runny nose
Hives and/or rashes
Itchy eyes
Stomach cramps and/or vomiting
These symptoms can all be signs of food or environmental allergies.
A doctor can test you for allergic reactions. If they find an allergy, eliminate the irritant if possible and/or get allergy treatment so you will feel better.
Think About Your Mental Health
Are you depressed or anxious and you don’t know why? Are feelings of anxiety, or other emotions, interfering with your everyday life?
Do you have persistent feelings of:
Sadness
Worthlessness
Despair and hopelessness
Exhaustion
Poor concentration
Loss of interest in almost everything
These can be signs of a mental health disorder.
The National Institute of Health estimates that “one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.” The great news is that many treatments are available so people can manage their illness and lead fulfilling, satisfying, and productive lives.
Contact a mental health professional and start to feel better!
Notice If You’re Feeling Tired
Everyone feels tired at times, but persistent feelings of tiredness can mean health issues that you should discuss with your doctor.
To increase your energy, try:
Eliminating carbs and foods with added sugars from your diet
Your body can’t function optimally without enough quality sleep.
Lack of sleep can even hurt your heart’s health and weaken your immune system. Learn more about the effects of sleep on your health.
If you wake up in the morning still tired, try:
Keeping your bedroom quiet, cool, and free of lights from electronic devices
Avoiding caffeine after 2 pm-4 pm
Avoiding alcohol within 3 hours of going to sleep
Avoiding heavy meals before bedtime
Listen to Your Hair and Skin
Your hair and skin say lots about your health.
Has your hair recently changed in texture or volume? Are you suddenly losing a lot of hair? This can show a hormonal or nutritional imbalance in your body.
Does the skin on your face have patches of different tones? Are they reddened or dark? This can indicate a medical condition, as will yellowing or orange-looking skin.
Share these findings with your doctor.
Watch for Signs of Varicose Vein Disease
Do you have any of the following symptoms:
Heaviness, achiness, or pain in legs, especially at the end of the day
Itchiness near veins
Leg cramps
Swollen feet and ankles
A feeling of pressure in the legs
Sores on the legs and ankles
Swollen or bulging veins
All these symptoms can be signs of varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) disease.
We can easily remember critical signs that you or another person are experiencing a stroke by using the B.E. F.A.S.T. acronym.
B.E. F.A.S.T stands for:
B—Sudden problems with balance or coordination
E—Eye problems-sudden blurred or double vision, or loss of vision without pain
F—Face Drooping
A—Arm Weakness
S—Speech Difficulty
T—Time to call 911 IMMEDIATELY
Indicators of Good Health
You’re on the right track if your body’s telling you these things:
You feel energetic and rarely have muscle strains or pains
Your bowel movements are consistent and show no noticeable changes in color or consistency
You sleep with minor interruption, fall back asleep in under 20 minutes, and feel well-rested in the morning
Your skin is hydrated, clear, and even in tone
Your hair has a sheen, little breakage, and little shedding
Your gums are pink and healthy and don’t bleed with tooth brushing or flossing
You easily concentrate, remember things, and can let go of negative experiences without lingering worrisome thoughts
Get Regular Checkups
Now that you know how to listen to your body, make an appointment to talk to your doctor about any health concerns.
Also, make it a lifetime habit to visit your doctor for a yearly checkup. This way, many medical problems can be detected early, when they are most treatable.
If you are looking for a varicose vein specialist, contact us at NJVVC for a free vascular screening and complete vein care.
It’s important to build your immune system to resist colds and flu. And it’s good to know, many of the steps we provide here offer additional benefits—including helping to prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even varicose veins!
The start of winter makes us think of exciting snow-covered ski slopes and heartwarming holiday gatherings. Unfortunately, winter is also the height of cold and flu season. But building your immune system and keeping it strong is important all year long.
How Our Immune Systems Help Us
Our immune systema help our bodies fight against harmful infections and diseases. It’s made up of a complex balance between our white blood cells, lymphatic system, thymus, and more!
Health care providers will recommend certain vaccines for protection against specific germs or invaders. But getting vaccinated is just part of protecting our health. There are many things one can do, daily, to keep our immune systems strong and our bodies healthy.
Immune Systems Weaken with Age
Immune systems change with age. And aging is certainly out of our control. Many older adults find their immune systems have weakened and they’re more susceptible to certain diseases.
But still there are things we can do at any age to make our immune systems stronger.
Here are ways to improve your immune system to better fight colds and flu. And you’ll find that the health benefits extend way beyond flu season.
Eat Healthy Foods
We enjoy foods because of their pleasing tastes and textures. But our bodies depend on food to get the necessary nutrients.
Not only does food give us energy (measured in calories) for activity and growth— it also keeps our immune system robust.
A healthy diet includes:
Vegetables
Fresh fruits
Whole grains
Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Lean protein
A diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables will provide lots of fiber to support your gut’s microbiome production for a strong immune system.
Many doctors recommend taking zinc supplements if you’re developing a respiratory infection to ease symptoms and shorten the length of the infection.
A healthcare provider will let you know the best amounts of zinc and vitamins to take. You don’t want to take too much as some can be harmful if taken in too large a dose.
A balanced and complete diet may even eliminate the need for any additional supplements.
Stay Hydrated
A well-hydrated body will better fight off the flu and colds. Hydration can come from water, teas, and even chicken soup!
Adequate hydration helps the communication and biochemical pathways of the immune system. Your blood will more easily transport nutrients, fluids, and signals to organs to help fight infection.
Reduce Stress
Sometimes the thought of reducing stress seems a bit like herding cats—a highly difficult task. But even if you can’t control the events in your life, you can help your body better deal with the stress you’re experiencing. This is important because stress can harm you.
Stress weakens parts of your immune system and leaves you at greater risk of infection. For example, shingles, a painful and sometimes dangerous rash, often emerges when a person is under constant stress.
Some easy ways to reduce stress include:
Going for a 20-minute walk
Listening to favorite music
Practicing yoga or meditation
Reading a good book
Calling a friend
Doing something you enjoy—such as cooking a delicious meal for yourself
Watching a funny movie
Exercising
Relaxing outside in the fresh air
Spending time with your pet
Exercise
Start exercising to give your immune system a boost. Exercise helps the immune cells circulate throughout your body during the periods of exercising. Afterwards, the immune cells will remain for up to three hours, working to protect your body from harm.
Harvard Medical School published the benefits of brisk walking to boost immune function during the cold and flu season. It reported, “A study of over 1,000 men and women found that those who walked at least 20 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, had 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less. And if they did get sick, it was for a shorter duration, and their symptoms were milder.”
Keep at a healthy weight for a strong immune system and optimal health.
Health professionals define an obese person as someone with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30. Studies have shown that obesity can decrease the immune system’s effectiveness and is associated with a lower effectiveness of vaccines—including the flu vaccine.
Other studies have found a connection between being underweight and having an impaired immune system.
When it comes to your immune system and your health in general, it’s best to maintain a good weight. Your health care professional can give you the best weight range to strive for.
These factors play a role in weight management:
Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet
Getting enough sleep
Exercising
Minimizing stress
Get Plenty of Sleep
It’s an undisputed fact that experiencing a poor quality of sleep hurts your immune system.
Not getting enough sleep will:
Dangerously reduce production of cytokines (small proteins that enhance activity of immune system cells and blood cells)
Two of the most important things you can do to preserve your immune system are:
Stop smoking
Limit alcohol
Smoking will make you more susceptible to getting influenza and pneumonia, as well as making these illnesses more severe and long-lasting.
Excessive use of alcohol will reduce the antibodies your body has to fight off infections. It also disrupts gut barrier function that produces antiviral proteins and eliminates infections.
Are you wondering about your vein health? Contact us at NJVVC to request a free vascular screening.
Today the word superfood enjoys widespread use and is the highest compliment a food can receive! It means that the food has unusually high levels of nutrients and offers a variety of significant health benefits.
Happily, there are superfoods that can even help fight inflammation and pain.
You probably have heard the term “superfood,” but do you know its origin?
During World War I, the US imported large amounts of bananas. The United Fruit Company called bananas “superfoods” since they were cheap, nutritious, easy to digest, and conveniently came in their own packaging! Bananas quickly became a staple in many Americans diets.
Vascular Issues Associated with Inflammation and Pain
Chronic inflammation commonly causes varicose veins. The inflammation damages the valves in the veins. These damaged valves lead to stagnant flow in the affected veins, eventually leading to varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Once this occurs, the veins no longer function well in getting blood back to the heart.
Varicose veins can also create long-term swelling that causes ulcers or sores that won’t heal.
Having a sedentary lifestyle, or needing long periods of bed rest, are just two f actors that slow down blood flow and can also contribute to the development of varicose veins—and to more inflammation and pain.
Poor circulation can cause you to feel pain, numbness or tingling in different parts of your body, including:
Inflammation is a serious condition. Along with contributing to the development of varicose veins, it can cause plaque to develop and loosen in the arteries, and even cause blood clots that result in strokes or heart attacks.
Chronic inflammation contributes to many other serious medical conditions, including:
Arthritis
Diabetes
Alzheimer’s Disease
Cancer
Depression
Inflammation can also cause chronic pain in the muscles and tissues, or can even cause painful skin rashes, such as psoriasis, or joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis.
An anti-inflammatory diet can not only reduce inflammation in your body, helping you to avoid dangerous medical conditions, but can even reduce pain. This diet will also help you control your weight, which will most likely further reduce pain in your body.
Fortunately, we can improve both vascular issues and inflammation with:
A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods
Elimination of inflammatory foods
Exercise
Weight loss/control
Blood sugar control
So, incorporate some of these anti-inflammatory superfoods into your diet and learn which is the most damaging inflammatory food to avoid.
Eat These Superfoods to Reduce Chronic Inflammation and Pain
Blueberries, Strawberries, Oranges and Other Fruits
Blueberries are chock full of phytonutrients that fight inflammation. If you can’t find fresh blueberries, buy frozen berries for the same nutrients.
Chili peppers have lots of vitamin C—an antioxidant that fights infections. It’s also associated with elimination of cancer-causing radicals in the body. Hot peppers also help reduce pain due to the capsaicin they contain.
Other fruits that are strong inflammation fighters include:
Strawberries
Oranges
Avocado
Sweet and Tart Cherries (Fruits worth mentioning on their own)
Sweet (Bing) cherries and tart (red) cherries both have strong anti-inflammatory properties, and a lot of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are closely associated with reduced muscle pain and reduced muscle weakness.
Salmon, Herring, Tuna, Mackerel, Sardines
Wild salmon has lots of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great inflammation fighters. Salmon helps improve blood flow and reduces inflammation in blood vessels and nerves. It’s also good for your heart and can even help reduce joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis or back pain.
Not a fan of salmon? Try other types of cold-water fish such as sardines, tuna, and mackerel.
But not all fish offer these health benefits. For example, catfish and tilapia have high levels of omega-6 fatty acids which can actually increase inflammation.
Some Spices
Consuming these spices leads to reduced inflammation:
Cinnamon
Cumin
Rosemary
Turmeric
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
EVOO helps lower bad LDL cholesterol. It’s rich in antioxidants (polyphenols) and has other anti-inflammatory properties. Use it instead of butter or other cooking oils.
Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School reports that the health benefits of EVOO include a reduced risk of some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and dementia for people who consume more olive oil than those who have little or none.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds have powerful antioxidants and magnesium. They can help reduce the number of migraines. They also support a healthy heart and lower blood sugar levels.
Chia and flaxseeds also top the list of anti-inflammatory seeds.
Coffee and Tea
Coffee has polyphenols and other compounds that fight inflammation. It also narrows dilated blood vessels to help reduce headache pain. Just be aware that consuming lots of coffee, and then suddenly avoiding coffee, can cause a withdrawal headache.
Healthful anti-inflammatory teas include green tea, black tea, and rosehips.
Edamame
Edamame, young soybeans, are a substantial source of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin K. It may reduce heart disease risk, as well as cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood.
Yogurt
Yogurt is associated with many health benefits, including decreased insulin resistance and decreased inflammation. Researchers possibly connected the anti-inflammatory powers of yogurt to its probiotics, but more studies are needed. Be sure to avoid sugar-flavored yogurts!
More Foods That Reduce Inflammation
Include these additional anti-inflammatory foods into your diet for better health and to feel great:
The number one inflammatory food is sugar. So, skip the sodas, desserts, candies, and fruit juices and look forward to feeling better. There is much debate about whether sugar is actually addictive, but there is no debate regarding the harm it causes the body.
Avoid these other inflammatory foods to feel better:
Processed meats—bacon and ham
Fried foods
Red meat—hamburgers and steaks
Refined carbohydrates—white bread, white rice, pasta
High-fructose corn syrup—watch for on all food labels
The state-of-the-art treatment for eliminating unsightly or bothersome veins is sclerotherapy. This popular, minimally invasive treatment is highly effective in reducing the symptoms and appearance of certain veins. But a common question about sclerotherapy is how long does it last?
What Is Sclerotherapy?
Vein doctors consider sclerotherapy to be the best and most effective treatment for spider and reticular veins, and some smaller varicose veins.
Some people want vein treatment because they are bothered by the veins’ appearance, while some suffer with uncomfortable symptoms. Sclerotherapy will make both types of patients happy. However, insurance will usually only cover treatment costs if it’s a medical necessity.
Sclerotherapy treatment is used to treat veins on the calves, thighs, and other places on your body. It’s a treatment that permanently eliminates existing troubling veins.
During sclerotherapy, your doctor will inject a specialized solution into the vein. The vein becomes irritated and collapses. Blood can’t flow through the damaged vein and instead moves through a nearby healthy vein.
The collapsed vein is naturally reabsorbed into other tissue and is no longer seen through the skin nor painful for the patient.
About the Sclerotherapy Treatment
A sclerotherapy treatment can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as an hour. Patients enjoy the fact that the procedure does not require any anesthesia.
Treatment time will in part depend on how many veins are being treated and the condition of the veins being treated.
If only a few small spider veins in close proximity to one another are to be removed, you might only need one treatment session.
If many veins of various sizes and locations need to be treated, the varicose vein specialist will need to schedule several treatments—usually about a month apart. The varicose vein specialist often treats all veins in two to four sessions.
At the start of the procedure, the medical professional applies numbing cream to the treatment area. This will keep the patient from feeling any pain when the sclerosing agent is injected.
With visual sclerotherapy, the doctor injects a sclerosing agent directly into the vein. This treatment works extremely well for spider veins and reticular veins.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is often the best way to treat reticular veins and some varicose veins.
Most people resume their regular activities after the procedure. However, you will want to avoid strenuous activity for about a week. You should also avoid hot showers and baths, and direct sunlight.
Your varicose vein doctor may direct you to wear compression socks or stockings for up to two weeks following the treatment—especially when you expect to be on your feet for extended periods of time. Walking for a half-hour a day for the first few weeks will help with results and recovery.
Soon you will see the results you want. With spider veins, you will enjoy results in as little as three to six weeks, with up to 80% of treated veins disappearing after each treatment. Larger veins may take longer to show results, taking three to four months.
Here you can watch an actual demonstration of veins disappearing after sclerotherapy treatment.
How Long Does Sclerotherapy Treatment Last?
Sclerotherapy treatment produces long-lasting results. More precisely, the treated veins will permanently fade away as they collapse and will not be used again by your body. They will never need further treatment.
However, if the original causes leading to spider and reticular vein development persist, new veins will likely develop as time goes on. People often confuse these new veins with a reappearance of the old veins, but this is never the case.
Sclerotherapy treatment is effective and permanent. But it does nothing to keep new problem veins from developing.
Are new problem veins likely to develop after treatment? It depends on whether the causing conditions still exist.
These conditions include:
Family history
Being female
Pregnancy or taking birth-control or hormone replacement pills
Being overweight
Taking certain medications
Continuously sitting or standing for long periods of time
Aging
Hereditary factors will strongly determine whether you develop more veins in the future. In fact, if both of your parents have varicose veins, you have a probability of about 90% of developing them again in the future. Happily, should new problem veins develop, sclerotherapy will successfully eliminate these new veins too.
Are You a Good Candidate for Sclerotherapy?
Your overall health will determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for this treatment. A consultation with a varicose vein doctor will give you a definitive answer. Happily, most people who are interested in this treatment are excellent candidates.
If you are a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding, you will need to hold off treatment until after delivery or until breastfeeding concludes.
How to Help Keep New Problem Veins from Developing
After sclerotherapy you will want to keep your legs looking and feeling great. The key to keeping new spider or varicose veins from developing is to work toward a strong vascular system.
This includes:
Eating a balanced diet, low in salt, with lots of fresh fruits and veggies
Exercising regularly
Keeping at or getting to a healthy weight
Avoiding putting unnecessary stress on your body
Avoiding high heels
Avoiding sitting or standing continuously for long amounts of time
Walking daily
Staying on certain medications—check with your doctor
Wearing compression socks when flying or taking a long car trip
Contact us at The New Jersey Vein and Vascular Center to learn more about sclerotherapy treatment with our vein specialist.
