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So far Nisha Bunke has created 114 blog entries.

20, 4, 2020

Health Risks of Working-From-Home

2020-08-19T00:48:02-07:00

Prolonged desk work can increase the risk of blood clots in leg veins.

As many Americans are working from home, we have received many calls from patients regarding thrombophlebitis. This is not a new scenario for us, over the years frequently patients come in for assessment of leg pain after working on their computers for 12 hours straight.

ThromboPhlebitis refers to blood clots in the leg veins and inflammation of the surrounding vein. The inflammation causes leg pain and redness of the surrounding skin. You may also feel hard lumps in the leg veins.

Inactivity, sitting for long periods of time, like sitting at your desk, working on your computer for many hours without walking or getting up for a light walk or exercise, affects the blood flow in the leg veins. Your calf muscle pump, which is used when walking and moving about helps to move blood back to your heart. Sitting for too long of periods, increases the risk of your blood pooling in the leg veins and can even form blood clots. Blood clots that form in the deep veins are serious as they can travel to the heart and lungs (deep venous thrombosis). Blood clots that form in the surface veins, are called superficial thrombophlebitis (STP).  With STP, you can typically feel lumps that can be painful. People who have varicose veins, have an increased risk of developing STP especially with inactivity.

Tips to Avoid Phlebitis When Working From Home:

  1. Avoid sitting at your desk or computer for longer than 45 minutes without taking a break to get up and walk about.
  2. Try to walk at least 30 minutes a day or other exercise
  3. When sitting, do calf raises to pump the calf veins.
  4. If you have varicose veins, you should wear compression stockings during the day time.
Health Risks of Working-From-Home2020-08-19T00:48:02-07:00

Eating for Healthier Veins

2020-08-19T00:45:26-07:00

Foods that are rich in flavinoids may improve symptoms of venous disease. Flavonoids help protect plants from environmental toxins and help repair damage. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. When we eat foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research shows that flavinoids have other potential influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.Flavinoids are also well known for their ‘venoactive’ effects on the blood vessels and have been proven to reduce symptoms of venous disease such as leg aching, heaviness and swelling.

Foods that are flavinoid rich include cocoa and chocolate, bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, apples, peanuts, onions, garlic, tea and red wine.

Remind the cook to use compression socks- long hours of standing in the kitchen can cause leg fatigue, heaviness and swelling.

Eating for Healthier Veins2020-08-19T00:45:26-07:00

Wendy Williams Show Kathy Bates Bring Light to Lymphedema

2021-11-15T11:03:12-08:00

Both Wendy Williams and Kathy Bates Suffer from Lymphedema.

This week’s Wendy Williams Show host, Wendy Williams discussed her struggles with lymphedema with guest, Kathy Bates who also has lymphedema. They both agreed that lymphedema is not given enough attention in medical education and in the medical community. We agree. Our medical speciality and society The American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) specializes in both vein and lymphatic disorders.

Lymphedema refers to swelling that generally occurs in one of your arms or legs. Sometimes both arms or both legs swell.  Lymphedema is most commonly caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes as a part of cancer treatment. It results from a blockage in your lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. The blockage prevents lymph fluid from draining well, and the fluid buildup leads to swelling. In our field, we also see phlebolymphedema, which is lymphedema secondary to chronic venous insufficiency. Venous hypertension can overload the lymphatic transport system, slowing fluid removal and causing subsequent lymphatic edema, in addition to venous edema. The result is swelling in the legs that is greater than venous edema.

n 2016, Kathy Bates was a speaker at our annual congress.   The American Vein & Lymphatic Society (AVLS) hosted what has become the largest and most comprehensive meeting dedicated to venous and lymphatic disorders in the U.S. Bates outspokenly discussed surviving and managing lymphedema after she had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.

Lymphedema is not cured but can be managed. In our clinic, we may refer to one of our trusted lymphedema therapists for manual lymphatic drainage and prescribe compression therapy. We also offer lymphatic pump therapy in the office. It is also important to evaluate the deep and superficial venous system prior to initiating therapy.

 

Wendy Williams Show Kathy Bates Bring Light to Lymphedema2021-11-15T11:03:12-08:00

Olympic Athletes Who Suffer from Varicose Veins

2022-01-03T13:04:37-08:00

Even Olympic gold medalists get varicose veins! Including swimmers and beach volleyball players…….

It is a huge misconception that people who take care of their bodies don’t get varicose veins.  In contrast, most of our patients take great care of their health.  At La Jolla Vein Care, we routinely care for competitive athletes, marathon runners, Iron Man competitors who all suffer from varicose veins and its underlying cause venous reflux disease. We see it all.

Olympic swimmer and gold-medalist, Summer Sanders shares her story of suffering from varicose veins. “As a life-long athlete and Olympic swimmer, I never thought a condition like varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) would affect me. It soon hit me that, even though I was active, I was starting to get my mother’s legs.

It’s important for people to realize that varicose veins and CVI can happen to anyone and they are more than just a cosmetic issue. But you don’t have to live with the uncomfortable and painful symptoms. There are minimally-invasive treatments available that are covered by many insurance plans.

In the past, Summer shared her story as the spokesperson of a campaign called “Rethink Varicose Veins,” which aims to educate the public about this common condition and help to dispel some myths.

“Like many moms, my lifestyle requires me to be on my feet constantly. I noticed my legs were heavy and achy after a long day, but I assumed these symptoms were just something I had to deal with,” says Summer. “My doctor and I decided the best path for me was a minimally-invasive treatment. The procedure was quick and I was back to my regular activities within a short period of time. Now my legs feel great!”

Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor is another athlete who is outspoken about her varicose vein condition. Misty May-Treanor has three consecutive gold medals under her belt for beach volleyball! If you are suffering from varicose veins, you are not alone!

 

Olympic Athletes Who Suffer from Varicose Veins2022-01-03T13:04:37-08:00

Ask a Vein Expert: Live Session

2021-11-04T13:52:03-07:00

Board-certified Vascular Surgeon Answers Your Questions April 24th at 10 AM on Instagram.

Live Question and Answer Session Live stream on Instagram La Jolla Vein Care

Live Question and Answer Session
Live stream on instagram

Please join us on April 24th at 10 AM on Instagram.  Dr. Sarah Lucas, vascular surgeon and specialist in varicose vein care, will be answering your questions and addressing your vein health concerns.  She will share some suggestions on measures you can take at home to care for your legs (@lajollaveincare).
Ask a Vein Expert: Live Session2021-11-04T13:52:03-07:00

Easter Dinner & Leg Pain: What’s the Correlation?

2021-11-04T19:53:27-07:00

After a holiday, patients frequently complain about leg pain. Especially, holidays where hours of cooking are involved like Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, Passover, etc. Some people who may have mild venous reflux disease, may not notice any symptoms until they are standing for hours- like during cooking. Over the years, we always hear from patients that their legs were aching and fatigued after cooking. The reason for this is venous reflux disease causes backflow of blood. The blood pools in the legs and the pooling of blood causes sensations of heaviness, fatigue, aching, and even night cramps and restlessness. Ankle swelling may also be more prominent. Elevating the legs allows the blood to flow in the correct direction and reduces the pooling of blood and symptoms. Wearing compression stockings during cooking can be helpful to reduce symptoms. Also when standing upright for hours, it is helpful to do calf pump raises.

Diagram of healthy and diseased vein valves

Leaky vein valves allow blood to pool, causing leg pain, heaviness, and fatigue.

Easter Dinner & Leg Pain: What’s the Correlation?2021-11-04T19:53:27-07:00

6 Stages of Venous Disease, Which Stage Am I?

2021-11-13T12:32:18-08:00

Venous Reflux Disease is progressive and worsens over time.

venous disease is progressive and worsens over time.

venous disease is progressive and worsens over time.

Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, chronic venous insufficiency, or venous incompetence. Venous reflux disease refers to ‘leaky valves in the veins of the legs. Reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. The deep veins are those within the muscle; they bring at least 80-90% of the blood from the legs back to the heart. The superficial veins are outside of the muscle and under the skin. The main superficial veins are the Great Saphenous Vein that courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein, which courses up the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. Symptoms include leg heaviness, leg fatigue, leg pain, ankle swelling, phlebitis (inflamed and painful veins) restless legs at night, and night cramps. Venous reflux disease is progressive and worsens over time. Skin changes may also develop, including darkening of the skin around the ankles. The darkening of the skin is sometimes referred to as

skin changes. The skin can become dry and itchy (venous eczema). Eventually, the skin can break down causing a wound, called a venous leg ulcer. See the image to better understand the 6 main stages of venous disease. Stage 6 is the open leg wound, known as a venous leg ulcer.

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

6 Stages of Venous Disease, Which Stage Am I?2021-11-13T12:32:18-08:00

Hidden Signs That Varicose Veins Are Developing

2021-10-29T19:03:03-07:00

Varicose Veins Are Not Always Visible to the Naked Eye

An estimated 80 million Americans suffer from a vein-related condition. Since most veins lie deep under the skin’s surface, vein disorders are not always visible to the naked eye. As a result, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms that might reveal an underlying vein condition such as

A duplex ultrasound examination can be done to properly diagnose varicose veins and underlying vein conditions. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the blood vessels inside your body. The ultrasound exam, which is painless and takes fewer than 30 minutes, allows a trained specialist to examine your venous system to determine if your symptoms are connected to a vein-related condition. The good news is that many vein conditions can be easily treated. Often, you just need to look beneath the surface to get moving in the right direction.

Hidden Signs That Varicose Veins Are Developing2021-10-29T19:03:03-07:00

What Your Ankles Say About Your Health

2021-11-13T13:50:53-08:00

5 signs of venous reflux disease were found on the ankles

venous reflux disease were found on the ankles

Venous reflux disease refers to ‘leaky valves in the leg veins. It is also referred to as venous insufficiency. When the one-way valves that help blood in the veins flow from the feet to the heart, no longer work properly, blood begins to pool around the ankles. Over time, the pooling of blood causes increased hydrostatic pressure within the blood vessels. This is referred to as venous hypertension in the medical community. Venous hypertension is associated with chronic venous insufficiency, which means the vein valves have become leaky for a long time before physical signs are apparent. An ultrasound examination can first identify if the underlying veins are weak and leaky not visible to the naked eye, long before physical signs become apparent. Some signs you may see that may indicate underlying venous reflux disease include:

chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease

Darkening of skin, and itchiness are a sign of chronic venous insufficiency or venous reflux disease

  1. Skin darkening around the ankle (hyperpigmentation). This is also referred to as venous stasis. This is a result of long-standing venous reflux or pooling of blood.
  2. Itchy, scaly skin around the ankles. This is referred to as venous eczema. This skin becomes itchy and scaly from chronic inflammation.
  3. spider veins in the inner ankle. These are commonly associated with venous reflux in the great saphenous vein. The great saphenous vein courses the ankle all the way to the groin. When blood pools from thigh upper thigh all the way to the ankle, small spider veins may appear in the ankle. These are commonly perceived as cosmetic because most people don’t realize there is an underlying problem.
  4. ankle swelling (edema). There are many causes for ankle swelling. Some are serious like heart conditions where others are less serious like a salty diet. When ankle swelling is present talk to your doctor about the various causes. However, one of the most common causes of ankle swelling is venous reflux disease. Anyone who has ankle swelling can benefit from an ultrasound examination to determine if venous reflux disease is present.
  5. skin ulceration and breakdown in the ankle. Over time, pooling of blood in the ankles and venous hypertension causes the skin to darken, it can become scaly and itchy and eventually ulcerate because the skin breaks down from chronic inflammation. This is called a venous leg ulcer. Venous leg ulcers are treated by treating the underlying venous reflux disease.

All of these signs and symptoms can be reduced by treating the underlying problem, venous reflux disease. See our treatments page to better understand treatment options.

What Your Ankles Say About Your Health2021-11-13T13:50:53-08:00
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CONTACT INFORMATION

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

Privacy Policy

Hippa Privacy Practices
HIPAAOneTM Certified Seal 2

Use the search features below to find articles and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

© Copyright 2010-2024, La Jolla Vein & Vascular | All Rights Reserved

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