The Office of Women's Health says that women suffer more from unattractive varicose veins than men do. However, whatever your gender, health status, or activity level, you can prevent varicose veins and improve existing ones. At Trophy Club Family Medicine in Trophy Club TX, Dr. David Yi and Dr. Paula Lansford-Seabaugh help patients with this common health problem.

Just what are varicose veins?

Your circulatory system has two major kinds of blood vessels: arteries and veins. Arteries take oxygenated blood from the heart and lungs to various parts of the body. Veins return oxygen-poor blood to the respiratory system and heart. All veins have internal valves that prevent the backflow of blood.

In the case of varicose veins, these blood vessels become overworked and distended due to gravity, overuse, excessive body weight, pregnancy, or incompetent valves. As a result, veins in the ankles, feet, calves, thighs, and buttocks look like twisted ropes and may bulge with a red, purple, or blue color. These are varicose veins.

Also, you may have or have heard of spider veins. These are tiny, often red, varicose veins which do not disfigure your legs or make your skin lumpy.

Unfortunately, people with varicose veins become self-conscious of their appearance and also experience symptoms such as:

• Leg pain and achiness
• Overall fatigue
• Blood clots from the slow movement of blood through the veins

Accordingly, your physician in Trophy Club TX should evaluate your leg veins and treat them to avoid serious complications and worsening of your condition.

Treating and preventing varicose veins

Prevention and treatment of varicose veins often go hand in hand. Here are some management strategies:

1. Do not cross your legs or sit for extended periods as these habits cause the blood to collect in your legs and feet.
2. Keep a healthy body weight.
3. Raise your feet when sitting.
4. If you have a desk job, get up every 20 to 30 minutes to walk and stretch.
5. Wear compression stockings to support incompetent blood vessels.
6. Up your fiber intake, decrease salty foods, and stay well-hydrated. (These practices also help prevent hemorrhoids, a kind of varicose vein affecting the rectum.)

For a longer-lasting solution to existing varicose veins, Drs. Yi and Paula Lansford-Seabaugh offers minimally-invasive sclerotherapy. This in-office treatment for spider veins and larger varicosities injects a salt solution into the affected vessels. Over days to weeks, the walls of the vessels collapse, and the varicose vein is essentially eliminated.

Learn more

Please don't wait to seek treatment for varicose veins, or if you think you are starting some, learn preventive care. Call Dr. David Yi and Dr. Paula Lansford-Seabaugh at Trophy Club Family Medicine in Trophy Club TX for an informative consultation: (817) 430-9111. We open at 8 am Mondays through Fridays.