Chronic inflammation and veins

By Dr. Sonja Stiller, Center for Advanced Vein Care

One of my favorite times if year is right now—February and March—and not because of the promise of spring. I like these two months because of the national focus on the circulatory system, which is what our medical practice is all about.

Given that the symbol of Valentine’s Day is the heart, it’s no surprise that February is American Heart Month, an important reminder that we should all focus on keeping our heart and arteries healthy. In addition, March is National Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month. This is a national public health initiative designed to raise awareness about DVT, blood clots in the veins that can break loose and cause a pulmonary embolism.

Because of the media attention surrounding these two awareness initiatives, I was recently interviewed for a story about the connection between inflammation and the venous system—that is, our veins. Inflammation is getting a lot of attention these days because of its connection to some serious diseases, like cancer, heart disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, MS, Alzheimer’s, fibromyalgia and more.

Many people don’t realize it, but varicose veins—whether visible or not—cause an inflammatory response in the body. We rely on our veins to rid the body of metabolic waste, and when they cannot do that job properly, toxins build up, especially in our feet and lower legs, resulting in many health problems. Pay extra attention to your cardiovascular system during February and March, and if you have any of the following symptoms, please give our office a call:

• chronic leg pain
• fatigue
• itching
• burning
• inflammation
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• leg cramps or swelling

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System, located at 7200 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140. More information can be found at YourHealthyVeins.com.