Vein Symptom Spotlight: Is Your Profession Causing Leg Discomfort?
Quick question – do your legs ever feel
Tired
Achy
Heavy
Twitchy
Numb
After standing on your feet for a long period of time?
That’s because gravity is not your friend, friend. Especially if you have a job that requires you to stand for long periods at a time. We’re talking to you — hairstylists, retail and restaurant folks, healthcare professionals, assembly line workers, teachers and everyone else who has to be on his or her feet all day or all night long.
Pressure’s on.
Standing for long periods is a big pressure cooker situation for your legs. As blood flows down through the legs, your leg muscles must work against gravity to pump the blood back up towards the heart. This is no easy task — as your leg muscles rely on movement and change of position to pump and squeeze the veins properly. Legs that encounter fairly constant downward gravitational pull are very likely to feel — see the list above.
Over time, this pressure can cause veins to stretch. And once veins begin to stretch and lose elasticity, circulation through the legs becomes sluggish. Lax vein walls mean vein valves do not open and close tightly. So blood begins to flow backwards (known as ven
ous reflux) – and the symptoms of vein disease begin to be felt and seen.
To magnify the problem further, if you’re pre-disposed to vein troubles due to genetics, hormonal changes (pregnancy & menopause), are overweight, and lead a sedentary lifestyle, you’re even more susceptible to experiencing leg vein issues and, if left unchecked and untreated, to possibly developing advanced forms of vein disease, such as venous stasis dermatitis or leg ulcers.
Stand up to leg pain.
We applaud industries who recognize the hazards of working on your feet, like the salon professional industry. In a recent issue of Modern Salon, this article — It’s Not Vain to Mind Veins — does a great job informing hairdressers about the hazards associated with standing for long periods and educating them about the symptoms and causes of vein disease. Good on you, Modern Salon!
Temporary solutions for relief right now.
Temporary relief can come in the form of a nice soak in an Epsom salt-infused tub, putting the feet up and watching a show, or even a swim or mild walk around the neighborhood can bring relief and get your circulation moving again. It’s also a great idea to wear medical-grade compression tights and/or socks during those long shifts on your feet. Take it from the Hamilton Vein Center nurses – they swear by their compression socks!
Permanent solutions for everlasting relief.
If your leg pain or discomfort becomes routine, make an appointment to come in for a comprehensive vein screening and ultrasound. Let’s rule out — or rule in – vein disease as a factor (What is vein disease). If vein disease is found to be the culprit, today’s advanced, minimally invasive vein treatments will shut down the diseased vein and put you on the road to peppy, energized legs as quick as you can take a lunch break. Yes, all treatments are performed on an outpatient basis and most take less than an hour!
Hamilton Vein Center Houston Area
281-565-0033
Hamilton Vein Center San Antonio
210-504-4304
Hamilton Vein Center Austin
512-551-1403
Resource used in this post — Modern Salon, May 2016
