Varicose veins and heredity

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For years many people have been told varicose veins are largely a cosmetic concern and should not be treated unless you are experiencing symptoms, such as leg fatigue, swelling and achiness.

By Dr. Sonja Stiller, Center for Advanced Vein Care

One of the biggest risk factors in the development of varicose veins is heredity, that is, your family history. If your parents or grandparents have/had varicose veins you, too, are at a higher risk.

We’ve had patients say, “I love my parents, but I don’t want my legs to look like that.”

For years many people have been told varicose veins are largely a cosmetic concern and should not be treated unless you are experiencing symptoms, such as leg fatigue, swelling and achiness. Of course, sometimes we don’t recognize our symtoms. Leg heaviness, for example—which may cause us to take the elevator instead of the stairs—is blamed on fatigue.

But new research is showing that the dirty work of varicose veins is often going on under the surface even if you don’t seem to have symptoms.

This includes the build-up of toxins in the lower legs and accompanying inflammation which can cause health issues in the future. New consensus guidelines are pointing out that the progression of vein disease is much faster than people expect. You can go from spider veins to irreversible skin conditions in barely more than a decade. These include skin color changes, dermatitis, and venous ulcers (open sores that won’t heal).

If you have visible varicose veins—from spider veins to bulging twisted veins—we can initiate treatment to reduce inflammation and the build-up of toxins, as well as prevent or significantly delay more serious symptoms.

If you already have symptoms, get checked out now. These include:

  • chronic leg pain
  • fatigue
  • itching
  • burning
  • inflammation
  • leg cramps
  • restless legs syndrome

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 info can be found at YourHealthyVeins.com.

Categories: Lake County Health & Wellness