Healthy Legs, Healthy Heart

February is American Heart Month.

Did you know your leg and heart health go hand-in-hand?

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, more than all forms of cancer combined, according to the American Heart Association.

VeinSolutions in Austin and VeinSolutions in Georgetown are two vein treatment centers that recognize the importance of American Heart Month, which is designated each year to bring awareness to the symptoms and prevention of heart disease.

Heart disease is an equal opportunity epidemic and that means women are equally susceptible as men, especially if they carry certain risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoke or lead a sedentary lifestyle.

And women happen to be more prone than men to develop vein disorders, typically occurring in the legs, such as spider veins and varicose veins. Both can have a direct effect on heart health.

What is the connection between leg health and heart health?

Spider veins and varicose veins appear brightly colored and bulging on the legs beneath the surface of the skin. They are caused by the pooling of blood in the legs due to abnormal veins and can lead to poor circulation throughout the body as blood flows in and out of the heart.

As abnormal or damaged veins must work harder to push blood up towards the heart, excess pressure is put on the body overall, and ultimately the heart.

Severe varicose veins with heavy blockage can lead to blood clots which prohibit blood from reaching the heart, sometimes with very serious, even fatal consequences.

Proper treatment of spider and varicose veins helps reduce the frequent pain and swelling they cause and also helps to keep blood flowing more fluidly in and out of the heart.

As we like to say at VeinSolutions, “healthy legs, healthy heart!”

How do you treat spider veins and varicose veins?

At our vein treatment centers, our first line of defense in treating spider and varicose veins is to recommend:

• Maintaining a healthy weight and following a balanced diet.
• Exercising regularly.
• Avoiding prolonged periods of standing that can put pressure on the legs.
• Wearing compression socks or stockings to promote circulation.

If prevention methods are unsuccessful, VeinSolutions offers many spider vein and varicose vein treatment options in Austin including sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation which are performed in our offices on an outpatient basis with little or no down time. Our board-certified vascular surgeons also perform minimally invasive vein surgery, if needed.

To schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified specialists at VeinSolutions in Austin, please contact us at 512.452.VEIN (8346). For VeinSolutions in Georgetown, please contact us at 512-501-4287 to schedule an appointment.

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