“Why are you wearing long pants?”

By Dr. Sonja Stiller, Center for Advanced Vein Care

Spring is here and the cold gloom of winter is in the past. That means more of us will be hitting the trails in Northeast Ohio’s fabulous parks, walking beaches on vacation, and strolling the midways at popular amusement parks.

This is great news because walking is the single best way to take care of your legs and improve your overall health. While 10,000 steps a day is a nice goal, just 4,500 steps can make a huge difference.

But what if you find walking uncomfortable? What if your legs are swollen, achy or heavy? What if they feature unattractive symptoms that cause your friends to ask, “It’s hot. Why are you wearing long pants?”

In such cases, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from a venous health issue like varicose veins, which do not always present as the tell-tale ropey veins snaking down your legs. Any type of vein can be varicosed, and simple spider veins often mean a bigger problem underneath. Yes, how your legs look is important, but more important is how they feel. Are they heavy, achy, tired? After being on your feet for a while, do you long to sit and prop them up?

If you’re ready to ditch the long pants and get back to a fun, active lifestyle, give our office a call, especially if you have a family history of varicose veins or blood clots, or any of the following symptoms:

• leg pain or swelling
• heaviness or fatigue
• itching or burning
• inflammation
• skin discoloration
• restless legs syndrome

Dr. Sonja Stiller is a diplomat of both the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine. She is the founder of the Center for Advanced Vein Care, a Tier 1 provider with Lake Health Hospital System. The center’s newly expanded offices are at 7200 Mentor Avenue, in Mentor. For an appointment, call 440-710-1140. More info can be found at YourHealthyVeins.com.