What to know about varicose veins
Lifestyle changes can ease their appearance, says UCI Health vascular surgeon
IN THE NEWS: Varicose veins are lumpy, ropelike vessels seem to bulge out the skin that are most common in the legs, ankles and feet.
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 30% of adults have varicose veins, but they aren’t life-threating. Dr. Isabella Kuo, a board-certified vascular surgeon at UCI Health tells the New York Times that there are no over-the-counter medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating varicose veins, but lifestyle changes can ease symptoms.
“Some studies suggest that supplements like micronized purified flavonoid fraction and horse chestnut seed extract can ease leg pain, heaviness and swelling.”
Kuo says women are more likely to develop varicose veins and while the reasons are not fully clear, hormone replacement therapy and pregnancy can be contributors.
Kuo is a board-certified UCI Health surgeon who specializes in vascular and endovascular surgery. Her clinical interests include all aspects of vascular surgery, including venous and lymphatic disease, venous stasis, venous ulcers and varicose veins, as well as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis access. As an associate professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, her research interests include aortic aneurysm, carotid disease and peripheral vascular disease.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.