Do your legs bother you to the point that you have trouble sleeping at night? If your legs feel sore and heavy and make it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep, then your symptoms may be caused by varicose veins. This is even more likely if you notice swelling in your legs and ankles during the daytime hours. If so, it is important that you make an appointment to be seen by the top vascular physician in Orlando, John D. Horowitz, MD, FACS, the founder and director of Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center.
In the meantime, read on to find out more about the connections between varicose veins and sleep.
It comes as a surprise to some people that your bed may be contributing to your varicose vein problem. While sleeping is the body’s time to regenerate and reinvigorate, certain venous conditions may worsen while you are in bed, especially if you have the wrong type of mattress. The reality is that the right or wrong mattress can help or hurt when it comes to the vascular system, either providing the proper level of support to minimize and/or eliminate vascular challenges, or aggravating vein ulcers and other issues.
A good solution may be a mattress that evenly touches the surface area of the skin and conforms to the shape of the body, such as a memory foam mattress. Tempur-Pedic may be the most well-known brand, but there are many other manufacturers of similar style mattresses. Such a bed creates a sleeping environment in which a person feels constant low pressure that is evenly distributed throughout the body.
What to Do During the Day
Most importantly, however, is a visit to a venous specialist to determine the extent of your venous condition and to discuss possible treatment avenues. At Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center, Dr. Horowitz uses his expertise and experience, as well as an array of state-of-the-art technologies, to determine whether the swelling in your ankles and feet and the soreness in your legs are caused by an underlying venous disease known as venous insufficiency.
Venous insufficiency, which is the cause of leaking or varicose veins, is when the valves in your veins stop functioning properly and, as a result, allow blood to pool up in the veins. Gravity plays a big part in this process, which is why your legs are the part of your body that is most susceptible to the condition.
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic nuisance; they can lead to the formation of deadly blood clots or even deep vein thrombosis (DVT), so it is crucial that they are not ignored. Fortunately, most medical insurance plans cover varicose vein diagnosis and treatment.
And speaking of treatment, today’s therapies are minimally invasive, cause very little pain (if at all), and have a very short recovery time, with some treatments allowing you to return to work and your normal daily activities the very next day.
The bottom line? Whether varicose veins are affecting your sleep or not, it is wise to have a consultative appointment with Dr. Horowitz, one of the premier vascular physicians in Orlando. Call Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center today at 407-545-3385 or 352-658-5547, or contact us online.
