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Beware of Varicose Veins This Winter

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How to prevent your varicose veins from getting worse this winterWinter is often seen as a great time for varicose vein sufferers. The colder days give you the perfect excuse to cover up and hide your unsightly veins. However, did you know that it’s also the time of year which can lead to your varicose veins getting worse? Here we’ll look at how winter living can contribute to varicose veins and what you can do to prevent them getting worse.

How can winter affect your varicose veins?

There are a few things which can trigger varicose veins in the winter months including:

  • Weight gain
  • Little exercise
  • Hot baths and heat exposure

As the weather turns colder, it’s common to turn to hot comfort foods. Most people tend to eat more during the winter months; especially throughout the festive season. It’s not unusual to pile on the pounds over the winter months and it’s the weight gain which can cause a problem for varicose veins. As the legs become heavier, they find it increasingly difficult to pump blood efficiently. This in turn leads to increased discomfort for those already suffering from varicose veins.

While you eat more during the winter months, you tend to do less exercise. This again can make it difficult for the legs to pump blood effectively. So, the veins begin to pool with blood, making them ache and bulge out more than usual.

Finally, as it is a lot colder, you’re going to opt for hot baths and have the heating turned up; especially underfloor heating if you have it. Heat causes the veins to dilate, again making them bigger than normal.

How to prevent your veins getting worse this winter

If you want to prevent your varicose veins getting worse over the cold winter months, ensuring you don’t over indulge too much and keeping active will help. Calf exercises are especially effective. If you want to enjoy a nice bath, make sure it’s warm, rather than hot and try not to overuse the heating.

Of course, the only real way to prevent your varicose veins from getting worse this winter is to seek treatment. There are a lot of treatment options available, so why not contact us today and book a consultation?

Cornwall Vein Clinic Now Offering New, Virtually Pain Free Varicose Vein Laser Treatment

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Cornwall Vein Clinic offers new, virtually pain-free treatmenrAt the Cornwall Vein Clinic, we’re dedicated to offering the newest, most innovative varicose vein treatments on the market. Our latest investment is a 1470nm laser, means patients can now enjoy a virtually pain free treatment.

Introducing our new laser

Our new 1470 nanometre laser is proven to eliminate most of the discomfort you’d experience with older laser techniques. Its longer wavelength capacity means it can specifically target cells right within the vein wall. This prevents the laser damaging the surrounding tissue, significantly reducing the pain felt during the procedure.

This innovative new laser treatment also reduces both procedure and recovery time.

A treatment choice to suit you

The addition of our new laser treatment means we are now the only clinic within the Southwest to offer all the recommended varicose vein treatments.

With such a wide choice of procedures available, patients have full control over their treatment. Of course, the type of treatment required will depend upon numerous factors including how severe the varicose veins are. The majority of patients tend to require minimally invasive techniques, though surgery may be needed for particularly large, painful and dangerous veins.

You can find out which procedures are recommended to treat your varicose veins by booking a consultation with our expert surgeons. It is advisable to read up on the different techniques and treatments prior to deciding which one is right for you.

Simple preventative measures

Of course, prevention is always better than a cure. If you have received varicose vein treatment, or you want to avoid developing them in the first place, wearing support stockings during long periods of standing up and ensuring you get plenty of exercise can help.

Overall, varicose veins are a common but highly treatable condition. The majority of the time they are harmless, but there is a possibility they could lead to more serious issues. Therefore, we recommend getting them treated as soon as possible to eliminate the risk.

3 Common Varicose Vein Myths Busted

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varicose veinsThere are a lot of myths out there surrounding varicose veins and some can be problematic if they are to be believed. Therefore, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the truth behind these misconceptions. Here you’ll discover 3 common varicose vein myths and the truth behind them.

1. Varicose veins aren’t harmful

While thankfully a lot of the time varicose veins aren’t harmful to your health, in some cases they can be. They can cause aching, throbbing and itching sensations and in some cases even serious swelling. Over time they may also lead to skin changes and leg ulcers . They can be really painful (thrombophlebitis) which means removal is essential in many cases.

2. Varicose veins are the same as spider veins

While the two may look similar, spider veins are basically just veins that have dilated. They are found in the surface of the skin and are largely a cosmetic issue. Varicose veins on the other hand are located in the fat between the skin and the muscle. It’s important to note that the pressure caused by the varicose veins can lead to the development of spider veins too.

3. Varicose veins can always be easily seen

As varicose veins are associated with a bulging, unsightly appearance, it’s logical to think they’re always visible. However, they’re not always bulging. They can be located deeper under the skin so they aren’t necessarily visible to the naked eye. You’ll know if you’re suffering from deeper varicose veins because they present the same symptoms of swelling, achy tired legs and itchiness.

There are so many myths regarding varicose veins so it’s essential to see a doctor if you suspect you have them. The good news is there are many treatment options available, some which don’t require surgery. Treatments have come a long way over the years so don’t be put off seeking help.

You can contact us today to book a consultation and find out more about the treatment options available.