There are many myths concerning varicose veins and when you see one, all kinds of alarms may go off in your head, especially when you aren’t too up-to-date on the topic. Turning to the internet can really help get you back up to speed concerning the various myths revolving around varicose veins, but you also have to wade through a lot of misinformation.
Because of this, we have taken the time to put together an easy guide tackling the different myths concerning varicose veins and everything you should know.
Myth- If you stand all day, you’ll get varicose veins
Standing all day will not cause varicose veins to appear. However, if you already have them, your symptoms will get worse. Varicose veins are generally genetic and isn’t something you can actually “catch”. Hormones can and do play a big part when it comes to the development of these veins, a big reason why many pregnant women develop them during and after pregnancy.
Why is this myth so common? People who are dealing with varicose veins that must stand a lot for their jobs confuse the increased symptoms with causation. Remember, if you don’t have varicose veins, you won’t get them from standing all day. But if you have them already and your job requires a great deal of standing, your symptoms will get worse.
Myth- Varicose veins are a simple cosmetic problem
Many people are under the impression that varicose veins are simply a cosmetic condition that people are embarrassed about. This is simply not the case. Varicose veins are a vascular disease. Not only that, they are a progressive vein disease. What does this means? If you don’t get them treated right away, they will get worse over time. They are a real disease that can cause people who have them a lot of pain.
One major issue with varicose veins (besides the fact that many people find them unsightly) is that other problems will begin to occur when they aren’t treated properly. The individual will develop swelling in the area and will deal with throbbing and aching skin. If they are not treated, dermatitis can occur, as can tired and painful legs. At the end stages of the disease the skin found under the affected veins can become very thin, leading to ulcers and bleeding.
Myth- Running will cause varicose veins
There has been a long-standing myth that running will cause varicose veins to develop. This is simply not true in the least. In fact, the opposite is true! It’s always a good thing to exercise, and moving your legs makes your blood start pumping. In turn, your circulation becomes better. Getting your blood flowing actually helps the fight against varicose veins.
If you are still worried about running and varicose veins, there are a few easy solutions you can try. One is to simply put your legs up after you are done running to help the blood flow get back to your heart quicker and easier. You can also run with compression stockings on, which will help your blood stay away from your lower legs.
Myth- The only treatment is to remove the vein
In the old days, removing the offending vein was thought to be the only type of treatment available. But we have come a long way concerning varicose vein treatment in the past couple of decades! There are now new, non-invasive treatments that can be done in one day. These include Endovenus Laser Ablation (EVLA) and Ultrasound Guided Therapy (UGS). Both have high success rates.
These two minimally invasive treatments can be performed on either one or two legs during the same session. Patients experience little discomfort during the procedure and report no scarring afterwards. The risk is low and the outcome is great!
Myth- Men cannot get varicose veins
Many people think that only women can develop varicose veins. This is a huge misconception! While it is more likely that women will develop this condition more than men, it happens to men more often than you would think. About 45% of those diagnosed with the disease are men. Varicose veins can happen to anyone at any time in life, man or woman. In fact, more than 30% of the population are affected by varicose veins.
Myth- Crossing your legs cause varicose veins
This is definitely one of the more popular myths when it comes to varicose veins. But don’t worry- cross your legs all you want. Varicose veins occur when the valves in your legs get weakened and damaged. While your valves normally keep your blood flowing, when something happens to damage your valves, your blood pools up. This is what causes varicose veins to appear, not crossing your legs.
Myth- Treatment is expensive
Treatment for varicose veins is no longer hard to find or expensive to treat. We can help you get fast and easy treatment for your varicose veins when you come in for a free consultation with our staff. We offer comprehensive solutions that you will find are much less expensive than you ever thought. Call us today and see how easy it is to get-rid of your varicose veins for good!