Venous disease and inflammation

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The body is a complex system with every cell no more than two cell-widths away from a blood vessel. That means inflammation anywhere is experienced everywhere.

By Dr. Sonja Stiller, Center for Advanced Vein Care

The classic symptoms of venous disease—including varicose veins—are leg swelling, fatigue, and achiness, as well as skin discoloration and ulcers if left untreated. These symptoms are caused by toxins that build up in the lower legs due to insufficient blood flow.

But these toxins also cause inflammation, which is never isolated to a single area. The body is a complex system with every cell no more than two cell-widths away from a blood vessel. That means inflammation anywhere is experienced everywhere.

We now know that inflammation is at the root of many serious diseases—from cancer to atherosclerosis (thickening of the arteries) and other types of heart disease.

Here in our practice, we see each patient as a whole person. That means we do more to help reduce inflammation beyond essential vein treatments. We discuss the importance of moving, and work with our patients to take small steps to become more active.

We look at other lifestyle issues that may be leading to inflammation, including stress factors, the disruption of your circadian rhythm due to sleep loss, and diet. An anti-inflammatory diet is not a list of one-size-fits-all foods. It’s about discovering what is inflammatory to you.

Remember, varicose veins are not simply a cosmetic concern, and are often not even visible on the skin’s surface. Give our office a call if you are suffering from any of the following symptoms:

  • leg pain
  • swelling
  • heaviness
  • fatigue
  • itching
  • burning
  • inflammation
  • skin discoloration
  • 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 and the UIP 2023 Lead Chair for Scientific Abstracts. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center’s offices are 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