Did you know that many women develop varicose veins during pregnancy? While a pregnant woman’s body undergoes many changes during this time, venous insufficiency is often overlooked. This is so common, in fact, that pregnancy is the most common cause of varicose veins in women. The key factors that lead to this are:

• As the uterus grows, it puts an increasing amount of pressure on the right side of a woman’s body, which, in turn, increases pressure in leg veins. As a result, it’s not uncommon for the veins in the legs to grow larger.
•  Rising Progesterone levels relax blood vessels which interferes with their ability to maintain a smooth, regular, one direction flow.

Other key factors affecting varicose veins during pregnancy are genetics, being overweight, carrying twins or higher multiples, and occupational factors such as standing or sitting in one position for prolonged periods.

Read an earlier blog post from VasCare for a more detailed look at the causes of spider and varicose veins.

How to Prevent or Minimize Varicose Veins During Pregnancy

While varicose veins are common during pregnancy, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. In fact, there are simple, everyday measures you can take to prevent or minimize varicose veins during pregnancy.

• Exercise daily – This seems basic, but finding ways to contract calf muscles (walking, jogging, etc.) is the best way to promote healthy circulation in your legs.
• Maintain healthy weight – Being overweight is one of the most common causes for varicose veins. You can counteract this by trying to keep within the recommended weight range for your stage of pregnancy.
• Elevate – Let gravity work for you! Whenever possible use a stool or box to elevate your legs on when you’re sitting.
• Don’t Cross Your Legs ­– Whenever you’re sitting for a long period of time, don’t cross your legs. Sitting this way could block circulation in your legs.
• Move Around – One of the best weapons against varicose veins is movement. Whenever you’re sitting or standing for a long time, take breaks often and move around. This will increase blood circulation and get your muscles working.
• Sleep ­on Your Left Side – Whenever possible, try to avoid sleeping on your right side. Sleeping on your left will decrease the pressure from the weight of the uterus on your inferior vena cava.
• Wear Graduated Compression Stockings – Compression stockings (also known as support hose) are tight at the ankles and get looser as they go up the leg. This promotes flow up the legs back to the heart and can help prevent swelling and worsening varicose veins. Bring a prescription to VasCare to get measured and fitted for a pair of stockings

There’s not a strict rule, but varicose veins developed during pregnancy often improve within a few months after giving birth. If they don’t get better, we can help. VasCare’s surgeons specialize in treating varicose veins, spider veins and other venous disorders.

Contact our vein specialists.

During the month of February, Americans see the human heart as a symbol of love. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women and men in the United States, but now there is a message of hope that many people will be glad to hear.

A recent study reports that patients with varicose veins are better at making arterial collaterals. These collaterals are often referred to as “natural bypasses” and are capable of delivering an adequate amount of blood to the hearts muscles which can prevent a heart attack.

At VasCare, our focus is on venous insufficiency and varicose veins. People hate varicose veins because they are unattractive and can cause many symptoms such as aching, pain, heaviness, tiredness, fatigue, itching, burning, leg cramps, swelling, and restless legs . Don’t worry, fixing your bad veins won’t limit your body’s creation of arterial collaterals – it’ll just make your legs look and feel better.

There are many treatment options for those suffering from spider and varicose veins. Find the best treatment for you or learn more about VasCare in our FAQ.

Love Your Legs!!

Post by Dr. Charles Gutierrez

With winter upon us, our patients are packing away their shorts for the season and embracing the changing weather. And as seasons shift, it’s an ideal time to see if spider or varicose veins treatment is right for you.

To start, the change in weather makes compression stockings for varicose veins a little more bearable. I always recommend that patients wear compression stocking for 48 hours following a procedure, and during the day for at least two weeks. These stockings aren’t too cumbersome, but it is always best to avoid the Texas heat whenever possible. Compression stockings can be worn comfortably under your winter clothing.

The colder months also see an increase in factors that lead to venous disease. Typically, people are less active during this time of year. On its own, remaining sedentary can increase the risk of varicose veins, but the decreased activity pared with holiday meals can lead to weight gain. Combined, this leads to a much higher risk of deteriorating vascular health over the next few months.

Varicose Veins Treatment Options

At VasCare, we offer several treatments options for varicose veins including conservative therapy, sclerotherapy, foam sclerotherapy, and radiofrequency endovenouos thermal ablation. If you’re unfamiliar with these options, please review our FAQ or schedule an appointment today.

Today, I wanted to take this space to talk about the Venefit procedure. This is a minimally invasive varicose veins treatment in which a thin catheter is inserted into a diseased vein and uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the vein walls, which causes the vein to shrink and seal shut.

This procedure, called radiofrequency thermal endovenous ablation typically causes less bruising than other methods, has a quick recovery, and most patients report little or no pain during the procedure. This is an outpatient procedure and most patients see an improvement in their conditions within one or two weeks after the treatment.

To find out if this procedure is right for you, please contact VasCare vein specialists in Corpus Christi and Beaumont.

 

Post by Dr. Charles J. Gutierrez

As 2014 winds to a close, the staff at VasCare Vein Clinics would like to wish everyone a happy holidays and a prosperous New Year.

New Year’s resolutions often get a bad rap – and usually for good measure – but despite the negative connotations that come from oft-abandoned promises, the New Year is a great time to look at your personal health and commit to change.

While that resolution to be less stressed could be thrown out the window by February, deciding to embrace vein health has long term benefits. Varicose veins is a serious medical condition and if you’re exhibiting one of the following signs, you could be suffering from venous disease:

• Heavy or tired legs,
• achy legs,
• skin irritation,
• itching or burning,
• swelling of the legs, ankles, and/or feet,
• pain and discomfort, or
• leg cramps/restless legs.

These symptoms usually indicate an underlying disorder in the larger veins of the legs. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, consider setting an appointment in our Beaumont or Corpus Christi centers. Treatment for varicose veins is considered medically necessary and could be covered by your insurance.

Get Treatment for Varicose Veins

So this year, follow through with your New Year’s resolution and do something about those spider or varicose veins.

The first step is to find out if you’re at risk. Check our previous blog post to find out the most common causes of spider veins and how to prevent them.

To schedule an appointment, contact VasCare Vein Center in Beaumont and Corpus Christi.

Visit our booth at the 15th annual Southeast Texas Senior Celebration and Consumer Expo Thursday, October 23, from 8:30am to 2:00pm at the Beaumont Civic Center for a free vein screening.

It’s an exciting day for adults of all ages- and an extra special event for Southeast Texas seniors! Admission and parking are FREE!

The expo will have over 100 booths with free health screenings, presentations, refreshments, live music, bingo, and lots of fun!

If you’ve noticed leg veins popping out, or have any questions about vascular disease, visit our booth and say hi! Visit BBB.org for more information about the expo.

For those that live in the Beaumont area and would like to request an appointment, please call (409) 924-8600, or fill out an online request form.

This Saturday, August 2, 2014, come join us at the 49^th Annual Nueces County Health Fair. VasCare Vein Clinic is proud to be a part of this great local service for Nueces County.

Every year, thousands of people visit the Health Fair, which promotes a healthy lifestyle and wellness in residents of Nueces County and beyond.

This year, the Health Fair will be held at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

We will have a booth at the end will be providing free screenings and distributing information about vein disease and symptoms, so whether you have questions about varicose veins skin discoloration, veneous insufficiency ulcers, or compression stockings for varicose veins, we’re here to help.

Screenings cannot provide you with a medical diagnosis, but can help you identify the common symptoms of venous disorders.

For more information about the fair, visit KII News, which is covering the event. If you have any questions about vascular disease or varicose veins, you can visit our FAQ or contact us directly.

If you’re planning on attending the fair, swing by and say hello!

Top 5 Jobs That Require Prolonged Standing or Sitting

When it comes to what causes varicose veins, there are many factors, including genetics, gender, and obesity. But one of the biggest risk factors for varicose veins is prolonged standing or sitting. Certain occupations that require people to sit or stand a lot can be bad for the health of your veins.

Here’s our list of top 5 occupations with so much standing or sitting that the jobs themselves can be one of the causes of varicose veins.

1. Office Workers

In general, office workers sit uninterrupted at their desks for much of the day. In addition to being an unhealthy way to work (humans weren’t designed to sit all day), a sedentary desk job can be a contributing cause of varicose veins.

When you frequently sit for extended periods, the muscles in your legs that normally help pump blood aren’t used very much. As a result, blood could flow backwards in leg veins and pool, causing varicose veins.

1. Nurses

In terms of jobs that require long periods of standing, nursing is right near the top. Whether it’s taking vitals, interviewing patients, checking up on patients, or assisting doctors during surgery, nurses spend the majority of the day on their feet. No wonder, then, that finding the right nursing shoe is so important.

Many of the nurses at VasCare wear compression stockings to help prevent causes of varicose veins.

1. Factory Workers

If you’ve ever worked in a factory or an assembly line, then you know how much time these workers spend on their feet every day. If you haven’t, let’s just say it’s a lot. And hour after hour on your feet, sometimes in one place, can be one of the bigger causes of varicose veins.

Of course, as we mentioned before, there are problems associated with prolonged sitting as well.

1. Cashiers

When we think about jobs that require a lot of standing in one place for hours on end, we immediately think about cashiers and about how the required standing of the profession can be one of the causes of varicose veins.

From retail cashiers at big-box stores to cashiers at grocery stores, working the register for long periods of time can take its toll on your legs and veins. To help fight vein disease, check out these exercises you can do while ringing up customers.

1. Hairstylists

Ever seen a hairstylist sitting while they work? Neither have we. Even though you get to sit in a comfy chair while you get your hair cut, they don’t. Instead, they typically stand on a hard floor all day, which can be what causes varicose veins and a host of other health issues.

Do you have a job that requires standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time? Is there something you do, like wear compression stockings or perform exercises, that help you cope? Let us know in the comments.