Missouri Vein Care Blog

When it comes to compression stockings, there are a few factors to take into consideration, like finding the most comfortable pair... which is the key to using them. The main issues preventing comfort are: toe-less or not, the length (knee high, thigh high, pantyhose), compression strength, tightly fitted, and type of material. Finding a pair that meets your needs on these key parameters will allow you to reap the full benefits of compression stockings. This guide is based off what I have observed with patients over the years to help you figure out which ones are the right fit for you! With so many stocking options, doing your own research on line and reading reviews is crucial to picking the right one based on what your comfort needs are. 

Stress is a part of living - everyone experiences it. Unfortunately, most of us know the feeling of stress all too well. Whether it’s a deadline at work, sitting in traffic when you’re late for an appointment, or family members driving you crazy…you know the signs: a tightness in your neck and shoulders, a headache that won’t go away, a case of insomnia, stomach and digestion problems...to name a few. The long-term effect stress has on your well-being will cause problems not just for your health. It affects you mentally and emotionally as well. Finding ways to de-stress is critical, and that’s why we’ve rounded up 20 unique ways to blow off steam and help you relax. 

Pregnancy is a wonderful season of life! It's a time of anticipation, preparation and change as you wait for the arrival of your new baby...but your body changes almost daily. And most of those changes are expected. But what happens when, as your body adapts to the new life growing inside of it, those physical changes become uncomfortable, if not painful. For many women, an unintended side effect of the beauty of pregnancy is the onset of a pregnancy-related vein condition. Struggling with the discomfort of leg swelling and fatigue, pregnant women naturally have lots of questions: What caused this? Will it go away? Is this harmful to my unborn child? Read on as I answer questions about pregnancy-related vein conditions. 

There are many myths going around about birth control and vein health. If you are taking birth control in the form of a pill or thinking about going on this form of contraception, it’s helpful to separate facts from fiction. Some women think that birth control causes varicose veins to develop more easily, but that’s not entirely true. Let’s explore some of the details surrounding vein health and birth control, so you can feel more comfortable making that decision for yourself.

Does your husband or boyfriend have varicose veins and feel like he must be the only man in the world with this condition? If so, it should reassure both of you to know that up to 56 percent of men deal with a vein condition at some point in their lifetime. It's a common misconception that varicose veins, leg pain, and other vein conditions only affect women. For that reason, many men suffer in silence, unaware of what they're dealing with and what the consequences are, or that it's a highly treatable condition.

It’s no secret that a healthy diet is the foundation for a healthy life. When you fuel your body properly, it responds by looking and feeling better. There’s a lot of good information out there about helping you choose better foods - more fruits and vegetables, lean meats and an appropriate amount of calories. But it’s admittedly hard...especially when there’s so many great tasting Unhealthy foods to enjoy. How big of a deal is it, really? What exactly is the connection between what you eat and your vein health and why should you care?

Spring break and vacation season will be here before we know it, and while many of us look forward to trips away, what happens when the thought of traveling - confined to a car or airplane - makes you seriously reconsider going?! For those with a vein condition, traveling is dreadful. The discomfort from swollen legs and the inability to find relief makes you consider canceling the trip. When the thought of a “relaxing” beach over Spring Break or a long car ride for summer vacation causes anxiety, it may be time to do something. Don’t let your vein condition stop you from enjoying your travels! Here are suggestions for ways to make the journey a little less painful. 

Having treated patients as young as 15 years old, I know firsthand that vein conditions in the legs are not limited to older adults and “Grandmas.” I was 15 years old when I first noticed a bulging vein in my own calf. For me, my condition worsened into college and graduate school when I finally received treatment and...for the first time...freedom from leg pain. The fact is vein conditions affect more than 80 million Americans, and that includes young adults and teens. While no one expects to develop a vein condition at such a young age, it’s actually more common than you may think.

It is a well-known fact that smoking cigarettes is harmful to your veins. It causes blood vessels to become smaller, gets in the way of life-giving oxygen to the blood, and causes an increase in the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack. Much of the negative effect of smoking is connected, in part, to nicotine. So what about vaping e-cigarettes that have low-nicotine and even no-nicotine options? Touted as a better alternative to smoking cigarettes, what is the impact, if any, that vaping has on your circulation?

After a free screening reveals a vein condition, we often have patients ask about when the best time is to get started on treatment. It's common for people to want it done by the end of the year. If that's the case, we recommend starting sooner than you might think. In fact, the earlier in the year the better. Things like insurance delays, deductibles, and waiting periods can slow the process down significantly. So if you want your treatment plan complete by a certain date, here are some considerations for deciding when to get started.