Are vitamins and supplements effective for varicose veins?

These days there seems to be a magic herb, vitamin, supplement, or essential oil to treat and heal just about anything…including varicose veins! 

While supplements and vitamins can play an important role in a healthy lifestyle, medical experts, such as our board-certified vascular surgeons at VeinSolutions in Austin and Georgetown, say that you should be extremely cautious about using supplements as a treatment for varicose veins in legs. 

Popular posts found on social media touting supplements, creams, and essential oils to vanish your varicose veins are often misleading.  Additionally, buying into these claims could be costly and not worth your time or investment. 

Be wary of posts with hashtags like #varicoseveinsnomore,  #varicoseveinsupport, and #byebyevaricoseveins.  

Here’s what you should know about the causes and treatment for varicose veins in legs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 50-55% of women experience some type of vein disorder, including varicose veins or spider veins. 

Varicose veins develop when valves in the vein weaken, causing blood to cease flowing properly up towards the heart–instead flowing backwards and typically pooling in the legs.  These damaged veins become painful and swollen and appear bright purple or red and bulging under the skin. 

“Some of the first things we recommend to help prevent varicose veins are maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding prolonged sitting or standing, and wearing compression hose to help with circulation,” says VeinSolutions’ board-certified vascular surgeon Dr. David Nation.  

According to Dr. Nation, if these recommendations do not alleviate your symptoms or help with achieving the desired results you are looking for, it might be time to visit with a vascular surgeon and learn about other options. 

VeinSolutions offers several minimally invasive treatments to safely and effectively eliminate the pain associated with varicose veins and their unsightly appearance. Sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation are two non-surgical procedures that are performed conveniently in our offices in Austin and Georgetown with minimal to no pain or recovery time. 

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. 

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