Paying attention to venous health is an important aspect of successful aging – and one that has historically gone untreated. Many seniors have been told that heavy, aching legs are a normal part of aging, but that’s often not the case. There are solutions for venous insufficiency that make people feel better, no matter what their age
Older people’s veins respond differently to everyday stress compared to that of a younger person’s because vein walls are primarily made of collagen. As the body ages, a decrease in the production of collagen causes the veins to become more brittle and the valves more likely to fail, especially in the superficial veins. Thus, there is a higher incidence of varicose veins in the elderly population.
The skin also begins to lose its elasticity and doesn’t respond to stress the way it once did. And because skin is the “end organ” of venous disease, leg ulcers can occur as a result of damaged veins.
Breakthroughs in phlebology (the study of venous disease) and new approaches to treatment involve less time, less pain, and can be done in an outpatient setting. Treatments today are overwhelmingly successful over the long term when performed by a Board-certified vein specialist.
The risk-benefit ratio makes vein treatment an ideal option for seniors. Although seniors have a 50% greater chance of suffering from vein disease, they have the same success with modern treatment options as anyone else!
To learn more about vein treatments options, contact us at the Vein Healthcare Center today to schedule an evaluation.
