Exercise is excellent for your vein health. But it may not be enough to prevent varicose veins and blood clots. One of the best ways to prevent vein disease is to exercise and get the blood flowing. But even if you work out regularly, you may still see those twisting, bulging veins on your legs, a condition that puts you at higher risk for blood clots. Don’t let that stop you from exercising! Being athletic and in great shape keeps you and your veins healthy. But you may have risk factors that increase the likelihood of clots and varicose veins. Still, exercise, combined with treatment and other lifestyle changes, can reduce your risk of vein disease and its complications. What...
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), or vein disease, is the root cause of varicose veins and spider veins. Left untreated, CVI can contribute to a loss of productivity and reduced quality of life.Varicose veins are part of the spectrum of chronic venous diseases that also cause spider veins. Vein disease occurs when the valves in the veins of the legs fail to function correctly, leading to blood pooling in the lower extremities and increased pressure in the veins. Over time, this can cause the veins to become enlarged and twisted, resulting in the characteristic appearance of varicose veins. Are varicose veins a health problem? Caused by various factors, including genetics, pregnancy, obesity, advanced age, or prolonged standing or sitting, varicose veins...
What is compression therapy? “Compression therapy is a tool used for a variety of lower extremity problems,” says Dr. Schul. He explains that “compression creates a ‘compartment’ in the legs that do not allow the pressure of backward flowing veins to exert tissue effects on the skin.” In other words, the pain and inflammation caused by the reversal of blood flow through damaged leg valves (a condition known as reflux) are minimized when wearing compression socks. This is especially true while standing or sitting for extended periods. Snug-fitting stretchy compression socks helps the vessels work better by applying gentle pressure to the lower legs that create a compartment. This compartment supports venous return and lessens symptoms of venous hypertension. Blood circulation is improved...
Your feet and lower legs are the parts of your body that are furthest away from your heart. This means that gravity does a great job of pulling blood down into these extremities, but also that a great deal of effort is required to return the blood, against gravity, back to your heart. Your veins are tasked with this duty and there are several conditions that can compromise this function. Inefficient circulation in your legs can cause pain and fatigue, swelling, and can compromise your vein health. Compression socks are a great tool to improve blood flow in your feet and legs. Let’s dig our heels in and learn more about the science behind compression socks. How Do Compression Socks...
Diabetic foot care is something that needs to happen every day. One of the best ways to care for your feet is to closely monitor your blood sugars and whenever possible keep your blood sugars in the range recommended by your medical team. People with diabetes are more likely to develop feet problems than other people. Your feet should be physically examined by your health care provider at least once a year. If you have problems with your feet, they need to be examined more often. Always contact your healthcare team if there are changes to the way your feet look or feel. Are they discolored? Swollen? Do they feel different, tingling, numbness, pain? These are all reasons to talk...