Did you know that being overweight is one of the most common risk factors for developing vein issues? Excess weight places every organ in your body under greater stress, including your veins. Your physician can help you determine your ideal weight and how to lose extra pounds. Here are some simple ways to help you lose weight over time:

Walk more: Everything from walking the dog to grocery shopping burns calories. An extra 20 minutes of physical activity a day, or an additional 2,000 steps, can make a big difference. Use an activity tracker to log your steps. How can you add more steps to your day? Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, for example, can really add up. Commit to a daily walk (or two!) The average American walks 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day, or about 1.5 to 2 miles. Try to aim for 5,000 to 10,000 steps each day. (Ask your physician what level of activity is right for you.)

Cut back on alcohol: A healthy practice is to drink no more than one to two calorie-laden alcoholic drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women.

Embrace leftovers: Portion sizes in restaurants are simply out of control. Ask for a to-go container when you order. That way you can enjoy half your entrée the next day. Watch portion sizes when you cook at home, too.

Eat natural foods: For snacks, try fruit and vegetables. It’s easy to overeat when it comes to chips and other processed foods — even those labeled ‘healthy’ or ‘reduced calorie’.

Drink water: H2O is important for all metabolic processes as well as aiding digestion, weight loss and healthy skin tone. Consuming eight to 10 8-ounce glasses of water each day is key to avoiding dehydration. Eating foods with a high-water content (like fruits and vegetables) also will contribute to your water intake. Too often, when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually dehydrated. Surprised? Drinking water throughout the day can help you determine whether you’re really hungry. Here’s to your health!

One day you hop out of the shower, and as you dry off, you notice an itchy spot on your leg. You give it a scratch, and then you realize it’s a thin red or bluish web of veins – your first spider vein.

Don’t be too shocked. Spider veins are incredibly common. This issue happens when the one-way valve in the vein wall is damaged over time. Instead of keeping your blood flowing through the vein and back to the heart, the blood begins to pool, increasing the pressure against the vein wall. The vein starts to twist and bulge, creating the spider web that you can see.

Now that we know the basics, here are ten facts you may not know about spider veins.

1. Women are more likely to develop spider veins than men, especially during pregnancy. The extra weight and pressure of a growing fetus puts more pressure on the veins in your legs.
2. A sneeze or a cough can cause spider veins on your face. Forceful coughing or sneezing can increase pressure on the delicate veins in your face and cause spider veins to appear.
3. Sun damage can also cause spider veins, especially on your face.
4. Your genetics play a big factor in determining if you will get spider veins. 90% of people with a history of spider veins in their family will develop them too.
5. Spider veins can cause itchiness, swelling, muscle aches and skin problems.
6. Spider veins are often a minor problem and easily treated, but they will get worse without treatment. If left untreated, you may develop a large painful sore near the affected vein known as a venous ulcer.
7. Compression stockings can help improve circulation and relieve discomfort when you have spider veins, but they are just a temporary fix. To completely remove the issue, we recommend treatment from a vein specialist like us.
8. Vein treatments like sclerotherapy are often very successful at removing the issue. It may take multiple sessions to dissolve the problem area completely, but recovery from the procedure typically takes only a few days.
9. Walking is a recommended part of your aftercare instructions when you seek treatment for spider veins.
10. Maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle is the best way to prevent spider veins.

If you’ve discovered a few spider veins on your legs or other areas of your body, don’t worry. Call us today to book a consultation for treatment to remove the problem!