Varicose veins affect over 40% of the people currently living in the United States. Some of these people are aware of their varicose veins while others aren’t.
Dr. Stephen Rivard
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Millions of people suffer from varicose veins, but they can manifest and present themselves differently from person to person. While some people may find discomfort with varicose veins, others only deal with aesthetic irregularities. In both regards, varicose veins pose a dangerous threat to your health. What many people don’t realize is that varicose veins are caused from a medical condition called venous insufficiency. Venous insufficiency is when your vein is damaged or weakened and the valves aren’t working properly, which can cause a myriad of health problems and lead to deep vein thrombosis. Most people who have serious varicose veins will also experience some sort of accompanying leg pain, swelling, aching, a feeling of heaviness or throbbing in the legs, itching, redness, overall fatigue, or worse. However, it’s important to understand that there are a lot of expectations when it comes to varicose veins—many of which aren’t true.
While some restrictions are starting to ease up, there’s still a lot of uncertainty regarding COVID-19 and the re-opening of the country. Certain states are moving into new phases, but one thing’s for sure: gyms aren’t ready to open. This has caused a lot of people around the country, and even the world, to become more sedentary than usual. With an increase in sedentary lifestyles, more and more people are suffering from poor circulation. Unfortunately, what most people don’t realize is that a lifestyle with little to no activity and increasingly poor circulation can lead to varicose veins, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and even death. To help make sure that you’re staying as healthy as possible, consider adding a few simple exercises to your daily routine. Getting up for just 10 minutes every hour or so will drastically improve your circulation and lower your risks of developing blood clots. By adding in one or more of the following exercises, you’ll improve your circulation even more.
With many states still sheltering in place to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on communities, we’ve seen more and more people becoming increasingly inactive. Gyms are closed and it’s harder than ever to get motivated to exercise—especially when Netflix continues releasing new, blockbuster hits. However, living a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous. Inactivity greatly increases your risk of developing a blood clot, which can be life threatening. As medical practices begin opening up for elective treatments unrelated to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to get checked.
Blood clots are dangerous and can result in pulmonary embolisms, which are often fatal. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize when they have a blood clot until it’s too late. To reduce your chances of developing clots, it’s important to stay active and keep an eye out for any signs or symptoms of problems. If you find yourself sitting around all day, make it a habit to, at the very least, stand up and stretch regularly. This simple act can help reduce your chances of developing a blood clot and doesn’t take much effort. Set a timer to get up, move, and stretch for 10 minutes every 2 hours and try to perform some sort of moderate, aerobic exercises at least 3-5 times per week.
If you notice any signs or symptoms of a blood clot, contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms of blood clots include swelling, discomfort, warm-to-touch skin, and discoloration. You might also notice signs of chest or back pain, shortness of breath, fever, or severe headaches. Calling your doctor at the first symptom of a blood clot will reduce your likelihood of severe complications, including death. Remember, blood clots are serious and should not be taken lightly, especially during these trying times.
Even though we’re all stuck at home, it’s important to prioritize our health. The stay at home order is a great reason to get checked by a board-certified vein specialist like the ones at Illinois Vein Specialists. At IVS, we offer screening services to determine your current venous health as you start to get back to working and moving again. Even if you’re still stuck at home, you can and should take steps to be more active. Go outside for a walk, check out one of the free YouTube exercise videos, or simply get up and move periodically throughout the day. Any activity will help your blood circulate more efficiently and can reduce your chances of developing a blood clot.
OUR PHILOSOPHY. FIND A BOARD CERTIFIED VENOUS AND LYMPHATIC DOCTOR.
At Illinois Vein Specialists, we understand that seeking proper care is just as important to you as it is for us. That is why we focus only on treating varicose and spider veins and provide the most advanced and effective treatments available today. We treat patients from Buffalo Grove, Cary, Elgin, Algonquin, Palatine, Vernon Hills, Crystal Lake, Hoffman Estates, Lake Zurich, Fox River Grove, Mundelein, Grayslake, Wauconda, Chicago, and all areas of Barrington, Illinois. We understand that when you choose a doctor you want to go to someone you know, like and trust, and honestly so do we. We know that patients come to us most often from satisfied patient referrals, but we encourage you to do your own homework and ask around. In the end no matter where you live or who you decide to have treat your varicose or spider veins find someone who focuses only on diagnosing and treating varicose and spider veins -- find a Board Certified Venous and Lymphatic Doctor (formerly known as Phlebologist).
For more information download our free Comprehensive Patient Brochure!
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where blood clots form deep in the veins of your circulatory system. Usually, DVT occurs in the veins on lower extremities and is primarily caused by either a lack of circulation or the inability for blood to clot normally. Close to one million people are affected by blood clots each year and up to 100,000 people die from complications related to DVT. if a DVT blood clot breaks loose, it can result in pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. The problem is that blood clots often remain undiagnosed and many people don’t realize the problem until it’s too late. To better understand DVT blood clots and keep yourself protected, it’s important to know what the risks are, how to reduce them, and the signs and symptoms to watch out for.
