Tag Archives: Safe harbor vein doctor

02.10.19
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Varicose Vein and Venous Insufficiency – The Symptoms

varicose-veins-tampa

varicose-veins-tampaThe first thing most people think as they notice their very first spider vein or varicose vein is “Oh no”. The once beautiful skin on their legs is now flawed (or perceived to be so).

The next is likely scanning their immediate family history. Did my mom or dad have varicose veins? My grandparents? Aunts? Uncles?
While genetics does raise your risk factor so does lifestyle, there are things you can do to help stop them in their tracks. It’s positive that you were paying attention and noticed.

Varicose veins are considered to be unattractive and most who notice symptoms of venous insufficiency will do their best to adjust their wardrobe accordingly to hide them.  To most people, the lack of pain translates to it not being a legitimate medical issue. That is simply not the truth.

Symptoms vary from patient to patient, varicose veins are a sign that your circulatory system is in distress. Step #1 is drink more water. You are chronically dehydrated. Step # 2 is to seek professional help from a Vein Specialist. Catching them as soon as they begin to appear will save you probable pain later in life as well as help to stop them from spreading and becoming more of an issue.

Signs you are developing varicose veins:

  • You can see veins that were once hidden
  • Veins are dark purplish blue
  • Veins look twisted, swollen, and may bulge
  • Your legs may ache
  • Spider veins (telangiectasia) may also begin to appear
  • Your ankles may become swollen
  • Discoloration may present – skin becomes shiny – brownish or blue in color
  • Your legs may feel heavy, especially at night or right after a workout
  • If you happen to cut the affected area its harder than usual to stop the bleeding
  • You may experience lipodermatosclerosis – The fat under the skin above the ankle becomes hard
  • You may develop eczema on the affected area. It will become red, itchy, and dry
  • Leg cramps upon standing may be experienced
  • Restless Leg Syndrome (twitching of the legs while trying to sleep) may begin
  • Irregular white patches that look like scars may appear near the ankle (Atrophie Blanche)

Complications become a risk with inhibited blood flow. These can include:

  • Blood clots
  • Bleeding
  • Chronic venous insufficiency (it is often mistakenly believed that this is the same as varicose veins. In cases of chronic venous insufficiency, the skin does not exchange nutrients, oxygen, or waste products with blood properly due to weak blood flow. Chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins are two different entities that are closely related.
  • Those who present with chronic insufficiency are likely to develop varicose eczema as well as venous ulcerations.

It is important to get a medical evaluation for signs of chronic venous insufficiency and symptoms of varicose veins.

If you are in the Tampa Bay Florida area and would like to get a professional opinion as well as a proposed treatment plan to get you in the best possible vascular health call Dr. Zuzga of The West Florida Vein Center today at 

(727) 712-3233. www.westfloridaveincenter.com.

01.05.19
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Drinking Excessively Can Worsen Vein Issues

alcohol and varicose veins tampa safety harbor

alcohol and varicose veins tampa safety harborWe have all seen it in the faces of serious hardcore lifetime drinkers. The broken capillaries and swelling nasal features, its a telltale sign of the consumption of too much alcohol over time. This excessive consumption can have a negative effect on your entire circulatory system.

Many people are predisposed to alcoholism due to family history and genetics.

If you know that risk runs in your family, your best option is to avoid it altogether. Other risk factors for vein disease besides alcohol can include poor diet, sedentary activity level, and holding on to extra weight especially in the midsection.

All of these factors can be addressed and helped through planning with your physician and lifestyle change. When people think diet they look at the food they are consuming and sometimes fail to look at what they are drinking as well. Alcohol should be an occasional indulgence at best when it comes to your health. Alcohol is actually poison. Your body just is able to filter it in small quantities via the kidneys and liver.

As varicose veins are a defective circulatory condition, and that alcohol affects blood circulation it should be no surprise that the two are interrelated.

The blood flowing through the legs pumps back up to the heart through a series of one-way valves that open in the direction of the heart and close immediately after the blood has passed through.  Ideally preventing any backflow of blood from occurring. When leg vein valves are damaged or aged they are unable to prevent an unhealthy backflow of blood, causing pressure to build up in the leg veins and resulting in the swollen, bulging, and enlarged appearance associated with varicose veins.

When alcohol is consumed it increases the heart rate and blood pressure. This forces the veins to work harder. It has a direct effect on the liver which is responsible for filtering blood. When the liver is damaged it becomes unable to properly filter the blood of waste and toxins. The result is a thickening of the blood making it even harder for those already delicate veins to do their job and varicose veins a far more likely outcome.

Dr. Zuzga of the West Florida Vein Center is certainly not going to advise you that you should never drink alcohol even socially, he will inform you that it would be wise to refrain from or limit alcoholic beverages if varicose veins are already present or if you have other risk factors for vein disease.

If you are in the Tampa, Florida or Safety Harbor Area of Tampa Bay give the office of West Florida Vein Center a call to schedule a consultation.  (727) 712-3233 or www.westfloridaveincenter.com.