Winter Is The Best Time To Get Rid Of Varicose Veins and Spider Veins

 

Warmer temps are right around the corner. So, now is the time to get ready to show off your legs. Don’t suffer through another season when you can take care of those painful and unsightly varicose veins and spider veins with non-surgical, minimally invasive, outpatient treatments that get you back to your healthy lifestyle – and those shorts.

Varicose vein and spider vein treatments can eliminate veins that create bulging and twisting lines in the lower body – and relieve common symptoms like: pain, aching, fatigue, swelling, leg heaviness, burning, and itching. Symptoms that can be so painful you can’t enjoy the active lifestyle you once did.

Both varicose veins and spider veins are cause by venous insufficiency. A real health concern, this backward flow of blood occurs when the tiny valves inside veins which keep the blood flowing in a certain direction, are damaged, and wear out, allowing blood to collect inside the affected area. This results in swelling of the vessels, which can often be seen on the outside of the legs. If unchecked this can result in tissue damage, as well as damage to the surrounding blood vessels. Skin changes, like discoloration and thickening will most often occur as well. Open sores may also develop around the ankle area, and can be prone to infection and challenging to treat..

Out-patient treatments such as Sclerotherapy, Endogenous Laser Therapy (EVLT), and Ambulatory Phelbectomy successfully treat both the symptoms and appearance of varicose and spider veins. These treatments are covered by an overwhelming majority of insurance companies for varicose veins and in some cases spider veins.

In addition, there are a number of reasons to treat your problem veins in the colder months:
– Wearing seasonally appropriate long pants and tights will hide the mild bruising/swelling that comes from vein treatment.
– It is more comfortable to wear compression stockings and conceal them in the cooler months.
– While wearing winter clothes, affected, treated areas are unlikely to be exposed to sunlight, which can cause discoloration during the time of treatment.
– More time to see the results is provided, since warmer weather is still a few months away.

While your instinct may be to put off treatment, your symptoms are reminding you that there is no better time to get rid if your varicose and spider veins and get back to your life.

Back Pain from Sports: Prevention and Treatment

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Back Pain can be classified into two categories: Acute Pain and Chronic pain.

– Acute Pain: Possible causes include a newly broken bone (vertebra) in the spine from injury or osteoporosis, bulging or herniated discs, nerve irritation from arthritis or degenerative conditions, and infection.

– Chronic Pain: Lasting six months or longer, chronic pain may be caused by previous injuries, arthritic or degenerative conditions including bulging discs, spine canal narrowing (spinal stenosis), old fractures, and bone spurs. This pain may occur daily or intermittently and can interfere with activities of daily living.

Whether you are an athlete or a person who exercises regularly, you can be almost certain of one thing regarding back pain: sooner or later, you will have it. Up to 20% of all sports accidents involve an injury to the lower back or neck. But, some back injuries are simply unavoidable. Athletes accept the risk of back injuries when they decide to play a sport or exercise regularly, vigorously and over a long period of time. Back strains, tears in tendons or ligaments are among the most common sports injuries. Sometimes back strains are triggered by seemingly harmless movements, such as bending over to tie a shoe, picking up a child or reaching up to get something out of a cabinet. Structural problems can also cause lower back pain and may accompany strains. A bulging disk (the soft material between vertebrae) may press against a nerve. And the lower back is one of the most frequent areas affected by osteoarthritis.

Most sports injuries result from:
– Doing too much too quickly.
– Overestimating your fitness and ability.
– Lack of preparation/poor technique.
– Pushing your body too hard (overtraining).
– Poor equipment and accidents.

Some of the ways to prevent back injuries are:
– Avoid sitting in one position for long periods of time. Get up and stretch every 20-25 minutes.
– Execute each movement required in your sport gradually increasing the speed of the movement, before returning to normal training and competition.
– Use lower back support to keep the pressure distributed evenly on the muscles of the lower back.
– Include physical activity in your daily routine. Maintaining a healthy weight minimizes stress on your back. For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity – and strength training exercises at least twice a week. Combine aerobic exercise, such as swimming or walking, with exercises that strengthen and stretch your back muscles and abdomen..
– Lift properly. When lifting and carrying a heavy object, lift with your knees and tighten your core muscles. Hold the object close to your body. Maintain the natural curve of your back.
– Modify repetitive tasks. Use lifting devices, when available, to help you lift loads. Try to alternate physically demanding tasks with less demanding ones. If you work in front of a computer, make sure that your monitor, keyboard, mouse and chair are positioned properly. If you’re on the phone most of the day, use a headset. Avoid unnecessary bending, twisting and reaching. Limit the time you spend carrying heavy briefcases, purses and bags.

If you are experiencing back pain, it is important to see a doctor and find out exactly what is causing the pain. Once the cause of pain is found, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan that fits your needs, including exercises that will improve your condition.

Interventional Physicians of Indiana is a leading provider of kyphoplasty and back pain management services and has served Central Indiana since 2003. We offer state-of-the-art, minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedures, and have one of the largest single center practices in the country.

8 Ways to Reduce Uterine Fibroid Risk Factors

 

There is no known way to prevent uterine fibroids. However, by educating yourself and taking a few simple steps, you may be able to reduce your risk factors, symptoms and minimize suffering.

#1 Know The Risk Factors of Developing Uterine Fibroids
– Age. Fibroids become more common as women age, especially during their 30s and 40s through menopause. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.
– Family history. Having a family member with fibroids increases one’s risk. If a woman’s mother had fibroids, her risk of having them is about three times higher than average.
– Ethnic origin. African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.
– Obesity. Women who are overweight are also a high-risk group for developing fibroids. For women with extra weight, the risk is two to three times greater than average.
– Eating habits. Eating a lot of red meat (e.g., beef and ham) is associated with a higher risk for fibroids. Eating plenty of green vegetables seems to protect women from developing fibroids.

#2 Exercise Regularly: Studies show that the more a woman exercises, the less likely she will develop uterine fibroids.

#3 Control Your Weight: It’s very important to keep your weight at the recommended level based upon your height and body type. You can calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) by dividing your weight in kilograms by height in meters squared, or your weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared, then multiplied by 703. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. If your BMI is above 25, take steps to reduce your weight.

#4 Understand How Pregnancy Effects Fibroids: Pregnancy and childbirth may have protective effects against developing uterine fibroids.

#5 Understand the Role of Oral Contraceptives: Research also indicates that taking oral contraceptives lowers the risk of uterine fibroids.

#6 Reduce Red Meat Consumption: Medical studies show that eating large amounts of beef and pork may increase the risk of developing fibroids; whereas, salmon, mackerel and tuna consumption may reduce the inflamed tissues of uterine fibroids.

#7 Eat More Green Vegetables: Diet high in green vegetables may protect a woman from developing fibroids.

#8 Recognize Fibroid Complications: They may include painful and heavy menstrual periods, anemia from loss of blood, pressure on the bladder or rectum, and swelling of the abdomen.

Importantly, call to make an appointment with your medical professional if you have uterine fibroid symptoms including:
– Heavy menstrual bleeding.
– Periods that have changed from relatively pain-free to painful over the past 3 to 6 months.
– Frequent painful urination, or an inability to control the flow of urine.
– A change in the length of your menstrual cycle over 3 to 6 menstrual cycles.
– New persistent pain or heaviness in the lower abdomen or pelvis.