Do you sit all day? Find out how to fix one health problem you may not know about

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When thinking about keeping your body healthy, veins may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But after speaking with two local providers from Restore Vein and Wellness in Hoover, we discovered just how important it is to keep them healthy—especially for those of us with jobs that make us sit or stand for long periods of time. Read on to find out what we learned.

Meet the Providers at Restore Vein and Wellness

• Dr. Brian Thoma, MD: Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Thoma moved to Birmingham for a UAB residency and career. He is double board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology with extensive experience in ultrasound-guided procedures.

• Vicki Blackwell, PA-C: A native of Birmingham and UAB graduate, Ms. Blackwell brings more than 13 years of expertise to the area in venous disease of the lower extremities.

The providers at Restore Vein and Wellness strive to improve the quality of life for their patients with Venous and Lymphatic Disease. But what is vein health all about and why is it so important?

Here’s a look at the services Restore Vein and Wellness provides.

Learn more about the importance of vein wellness + treatment options—contact Restore Vein and Wellness today.

What is vein health + why is it so important?

Great question, and one you’ll be glad you asked. As you likely learned at some point during a school health or science class, veins return the blood back to the heart. Vein disease results when the valves in the veins of the legs fail, or become incompetent, and cause the blood to pool in the legs resulting in the symptoms and findings listed below:

• Edema (leg swelling) 
• Leg pain described as a heaviness or tiredness
• Poor circulation 
• Skin discoloration or brown patches on the legs
• Spider veins
• Varicose veins

“There are a lot of people walking around with venous insufficiency and don’t know it, which negatively affects their quality of life. We hope to increase awareness of vein disease in the Greater Birmingham Area.”

Dr. Brian Thoma, MD, Restore Vein and Wellness

Are you at risk for vein disease?

Here are a few risk factors the providers at Restore Vein and Wellness filled us in on, including some that may surprise you:

1. Extended sitting or standing

While some people may be Olympic athletes or ballerinas, many of us spend hours of our day behind a desk. According to the docs at Restore Vein and Wellness, jobs where you sit or stand for long periods of time play a big role in the health of your veins. 

If your job keeps you less than active, don’t worry. Restore Vein and Wellness suggests taking breaks throughout the day, whether you take a quick walk or do a few sets of jumping jacks, movement is key.

2. Age

While aging can increase the chances of vein complications, young people are also at risk.

“Vein disease is going to become more prevalent the older we get, but we also see teenagers in our office who have already noticed vein problems. People are never too young to start looking out for the signs and symptoms of vein disease.”

Vicki Blackwell, PA-C, Restore Vein and Wellness

3. Family history

If you’re wondering if you may be at risk of vein complications, a good way to know is to look at your family tree.

“Vein disease is very prevalent if there’s a family history, that’s one of the bigger risk factors. If mom or sister had varicose veins, then siblings or children may be more likely to.”

Dr. Brian Thoma, Restore Vein and Wellness

Prevention + treatment options

What can you do to prevent or treat problems like these? According to Restore Vein and Wellness, the answer is to be proactive and seek treatment early.

“The earlier you intervene and stop the progression of vein disease, the more reversible the symptoms will be. It’s important to seek treatment early rather than later.”

Vicki Blackwell, PA-C, Restore Vein and Wellness

Must-know: Treatment of Venous Insufficiency with an ablation procedure is covered by Medicare and Commercial Insurance. 

Other prevention tips include:

• Drink plenty of water, maintain a healthy diet and avoid smoking.
• Get regular cardiovascular exercise to maintain ideal body weight.
• Wear compression socks to reduce swelling and encourage good blood flow. They look just like your average sock and even come in a variety of fun patterns. 

Book your appointment today

At this point in the article, you may have discovered you check the boxes for a vein health check-up. Remember, early detection is key, so go ahead and get started booking that appointment:

1. Request an appointment online or call 205.208.0324.
2. Fill out new-patient forms provided during your scheduled appointment.
3. You’l have a physical and ultrasound and receive your results and treatment options the same day.

What if you require treatments? Don’t fret. The docs at Restore Vein and Wellness provided us with nothing but positive feedback.

• Treatments are all outpatient.
• Treatments are minimally invasive, decrease pain and restore beauty.
• Recovery time is minimal. Most patients are up and active the next day.

“One of the most common things patients say after treatment is that they really didn’t realize how problematic their legs were, and are grateful for how much better they feel.”

Dr. Brian Thoma, MD, Restore Vein and Wellness

Discover more about vein wellness and treatment options—visit Restore Vein and Wellness’ website + follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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