
When is the last time you showed off or took a good look at your legs? Celebrities like Heidi Klum have made a career out of showing off her legs. Even going as far as having them insured!
One of the body’s amazing adaptations is the network of vessels carrying blood from the heart to the feet and back again. Arteries transport blood away from the heart to the feet, and our veins are equipped with valves and muscular pumps to move the blood against gravity back to the heart.
As we age some will find that the veins of the lower leg have a harder time carrying the blood back up, causing blood can to pool in the lower leg. This will result in swelling (edema)and veins that pop out—varicosities. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do to prevent varicose veins. The most important factor is genetics, so look to your parents to see what may be in store for your legs. Also, women are particularly at risk.
If you have swollen legs, ankles and varicose veins, Dr. Vimal Reddy recommends: