How Can I Relieve My Varicose Vein Symptoms This Summer?
As the days get longer and the temperature rises, residents of Boca Raton head to beaches and pools looking to beat the heat. But for patients with varicose veins, summer is often a double-edged sword. As you join friends and family by the water, the symptoms associated with varicose veins can worsen. What is it about summer that compounds these uncomfortable side effects? A few factors are at play:
- Heat: Varicose veins form when the valves of vein walls wear down, causing blood to pool in the lower legs instead of flow toward the heart. Whether it arrives in the form of a hot summer day, a jacuzzi, or a sauna, heat causes veins to enlarge, creating more space for blood to gather in the legs
- Dehydration: Sweat is the body’s natural mechanism for self-cooling. As we sweat, electrolytes are emitted from the body, which can lead to dehydration. Our blood vessels narrow when we’re dehydrated, which causes slowing circulation. This increases the chances of a potentially life-threatening blood clotoccurring.
- Sunburns: While it’s a myth that sunburns lead to varicose veins (they can only directly cause facial spider veins), they can heighten varicose vein symptoms. Like hot weather, these painful burns raise the temperature of your skin, causing veins close to the surface to dilate and blood to pool.
Ways to Mitigate Summer’s Side Effects
There are several ways varicose vein patients can ward off the negative effects of summer sun and heat. Follow these simple steps in order to be able to enjoy the brightest months of the year:
- Monitor the Temperature: Temperatures in Boca Raton climb 20 degrees or more during the summer months. Planning errands and outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day — before 10:00 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m. — can help you beat the heat and avoid the sun while it’s at its strongest.
- Wear Sunscreen: Sunscreen will protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays, ensuring you don’t develop a sunburn that will agitate varicose veins. Make sure to use SPF 30 or higher and reapply every two hours.
- Hydrate: Healthcare professionals often recommend consuming 64 ounces of water per day. It’s especially critical to keep this up during the hot summer months, when you’re sweating more regularly. Eating potassium-rich foods like bananas and spinach can also boost your electrolyte levels and keep you hydrated.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, breathable clothing to help you stay cool and keep your body temperature under control. Try to avoid dark clothing as much as possible — it absorbs more heat than lighter fabrics do.
Available Treatment Options
While the steps outlined above can offer temporary relief from varicose vein symptoms during the warmest months of the year, they can’t reverse existing varicose veins. At the Kimmel Institute, we offer several varicose vein treatments that eradicate these cord-like veins and meet each patient’s unique needs. Some common treatment options include:
- Sclerotherapy: This is one of the most popular treatments for both spider and varicose veins. A solution is injected into the vein that causes the vein walls to swell, stick together, and seal shut, stopping the flood of blood to unhealthy veins.
- Ambulatory Microphlebectomy: Multiple small incisions are made over the length of the veins, which are then removed through minimally invasive surgery. This involves little to no pain, and patients are often able to get back to their favorite activities quickly.
- Ultrasound Guided Chemical Ablation: An FDA-approved chemical is injected into the vein with ultrasound guidance, after which a pressure bandage is applied to seal the vein shut and redirect blood toward the heart. This method is often used to treat larger varicose veins.
- Laser Ablation: A tiny laser fiber is inserted into the vein with ultrasound guidance, activated, and then slowly withdrawn to close weakened veins. The entire procedure takes less than an hour, and patients return home virtually pain-free.
To regain control of your life and find the right varicose vein treatment for you, schedule a consultation with the Kimmel Institute today.