Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/63981
live in good health Keeping Legs Beautiful and By Kelsey Sorenson Warning Signs When the one-way valves in your veins break down, we see the result as unsightly and painful spider veins and varicose veins. While certain lifestyle factors such as sit- ting or standing too long can exacerbate vein problems, the root of their existence is all in your genes. If spider and varicose veins run in your family, keep a watchful eye on them. Both types of vein problems can worsen slowly—often over months or even years—and be anything from a minor annoyance to seriously painful. Prevention For women with a family history of spider and varicose veins, the focus should be on improving blood fl ow in your legs. To keep your legs (and blood) moving, maintain a healthy body weight and strengthen your calves with regular exercise. If you spend long days sitting or on your feet, do exer- cises that fl ex the calf muscles during the day. When veins appear or pre-existing veins cause you trouble, wearing com- pression stockings can slow them from worsening and delay new veins from appearing. Treatment Seeing a doctor never hurts. Laser and/or injection treatments ("sclerotherapy") are common for spider veins, whereas larger varicose veins usually require a diagnos- tic ultrasound and may be treated with endovenous laser or radiofrequency, im- age-guided injections or even surgery. All treatments take several weeks to months to show their full benefi ts. Luckily, vein treatment is becoming more effective and less invasive, meaning outpatient proce- dures are more common for keeping veins healthy. Your Veins Pain-free Not just a cosmetic concern, spider veins and varicose veins can cause daily pain in your legs. Dr. Boyd Erdman of the Madison Vein and Laser Institute offers the basics on caring for your veins when they stop caring for you 14 BRAVA Magazine March 2012