Look and feel your best this summer … with The Vein Center at Deborah

With summer here, you’re probably thinking about how to look your best in shorts and a bathing suit. For 15 percent of men and 25 percent of women, that means ridding yourself of unsightly varicose veins. However, this seemingly superficial condition may be the sign of a more serious medical issue, says Matthew Samra, D.O., Director of The Vein Center at Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
      “The most important thing people need to realize,” says Dr. Samra, “is that although varicose and spider veins are unattractive and relatively easy to remove, they could actually signal a deeper circulation problem or an even more severe condition.”
      Varicose veins could be associated with diabetes or a more serious medical condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot can form, break off, travel through the bloodstream to the lungs and cause damage or even death. Deborah’s Vein Center’s first order of business is determining the severity and seriousness of your condition.

Unsightly no more
If The Vein Center’s physicians decide that your varicose and spider veins are superficial, their recommendations to manage your condition could include wearing compression stockings and elevating your legs.
      If your problem lies with the great saphenous vein—the main superficial vein—Dr. Samra may recommend radiofrequency ablation, the industry’s gold standard for painlessly closing off the problematic vein without complications. After this half-hour procedure under light sedation, patients are typically sent home with their leg(s) wrapped in an ace bandage and instructions to wear compression stockings for a short time after the first 24 hours following the procedure.
      Within days, your problematic veins will be out of sight. If your veins need a “touch-up,” you’ll receive an injection to close the vein (injection sclerotherapy) or have an ambulatory phlebectomy—a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure that requires no stitches.
      If you’re concerned about your varicose or spider veins, call Deborah at 1-800-555-1990 to learn how our Vein Center can help you. Look for this article and more in the Summer 2009 issue of pulse! from Deborah Heart and Lung Center. If you’d like to be added to the pulse! mailing list, contact us at askaquestion@deborah.org.

Prevent vein problems
The best treatment for varicose or spider veins is prevention. Matthew Samra, D.O., offers these 10 tips to help keep your legs healthy and looking great:
1. Stay active.
2. Keep a healthy weight.
3. Wear support hose.
4. Stay cool—avoid hot tubs.
5. Pay attention to symptoms: Are your legs tired? Do you have night cramps, leg swelling or itching?
6. Avoid tight, uncomfortable shoes.
7. Don’t smoke.
8. Prop your feet up when sitting.
9. Avoid extra salt in your diet.
10. Don’t stay out in the sun too long.