“This year I will take care of my health.” Does this sound like you? At the beginning of the year, many people resolve to exercise regularly, quit smoking, see their doctor, and start a healthy life-style plan. These are all excellent resolutions for 2018, but you should include one more: vein health. Vein disorders and diseases affect millions of people. These occur when valves in veins of the legs fail to move blood back to the heart. This can cause pain, swelling, varicose veins, or worse. It is a chronic and a progressive problem, and left untreated, it can lead to serious medical complications. “Venous disease is a very common health-related disorder among Americans and among populations worldwide”, said Dr. Primepares Pal, a Board–certified vein specialist at Minnesota Vein Center, “ however, most people are not aware that it may be affecting them, or that there are technically advanced minimally invasive treatments available.” Here are three things that people can do to improve— or prevent— vein problems in the new year:
- Exercise. This can be as simple and effective as walking just 30 minutes a day. Walking causes the regular contraction of calf muscles and helps promote blood flow to the heart.
- Quit smoking. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke affects veins, arteries and the entire circulatory system. It can make venous symptoms, like leg aches and pains, even worse.
- See your doctor. Ask your primary care physician about venous issues, especially if ‘varicose veins” are common among family members. Your doctor can refer you to a board certified phlebologist ( Vein Specialist) for a screening and evaluation.
To learn more about how to identify, prevent and treat venous disease, visit mnveincenter.com Dr Primepares Pal is the founder of the Minnesota Vein Center. certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and cares for all levels of venous disease, including spider veins, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis and venous stasis ulcers.