It seems to me that we skipped spring almost entirely this year. It feels like yesterday when I was writing my article for our Spring Newsletter!

In fairness, I admit that a lot happened during the fleeting moments of the spring season. There were the gut-wrenching moments when my wife was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. Excellent care in a timely manner saved her life, and she is recovering amidst flowers, food, and numerous get-well cards from family and friends. She has lost function of the right eye, and the treatment of complete third nerve palsy, as her neurologist put it, is to “hurry up and wait”. All the advancement in science has been unable to offer anything to overcome the feeling of powerlessness when she looks at me with her only good eye right now.

Spring also brought new opportunities and responsibilities. I was elected to be Vice President for the Missouri Chapter of the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. It is indeed a privilege to be part of this great organization diligently fighting to preserve the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship and the practice of private medicine since 1943.

My schedule during the spring months was replete with an inordinate number of patients with advanced stages of leg problems. Hence, we have dedicated this newsletter to address the complications of untreated varicose veins. One patient who deserves special recognition is Dona Russell. As I mentioned in our Spring Newsletter, this pleasant 93 years “young” woman came to us in a wheelchair accompanied by her two, caring daughters. Dona has lived with swelling, poorly healing ulcers, and excruciating pain in her legs for several years. However, when I asked about her expectations from us, her response was “Can you help me get out of this wheelchair?”. The love for life and desire to experience every moment of it even in face of debilitating pain and challenges is truly inspiring. I am happy to say that her legs are “like new”.

Finally, a patient whom I saw recently deserves mentioning as well. This pleasant woman has lived with severe pain and debilitating cramps in her legs for a very long time. Until the last few moments of her treatment with us, she cautiously but repetitively expressed her optimism of being able to live without the excruciating pain in her legs. She returned for a follow-up after her recent treatment and when I entered the examination room to see her, her first words were “You are God.” She can now enjoy both her legs and her life.

I have always embraced science more than religion. However, if there is indeed a God, He must feel very entertained by bestowing a feeling of sheer powerlessness in one instance and patient’s comment of being God Himself during another, all within a span of few hours.

Although spirituality is largely a matter of one’s beliefs, I believe that the words of Gary Allan deserve special credence:

Life isn’t always beautiful but it’s a beautiful ride.

Happy Summer everyone!

Sam Gupta, M.D.

Because heat dilates the veins, many vein issues worsen during the summertime. With higher temperatures, veins expand leading to more pooling of blood in the legs and problems associated with it such as leg pain, tiredness, leg cramps, swelling (edema) and blood clots. There is also an increased chance of seeing new spider veins.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy the warm season.

1. Stay Cool
   Make sure you wear clothes that won't trap heat. Always use sunblock (SPF 30 or above) not just on your legs, but also on your face and nose, where thinner skin is more prone to developing spider veins.
2. Take a Dive
   In addition to offering great respite from the summer heat, swimming can also promote normal circulation in your legs. Swimming is a low-impact exercise that saves your joints from the pounding, yet increases your heart rate and improves overall circulation. Also, cooling exercises like swimming, surfing, and brisk evening walks help keep the blood vessels from dilating.
3. Stay Hydrated
   Keeping your body properly hydrated will help effectively circulate blood, heal injuries faster, and allow for healthier skin. While the summer heat can easily dry anyone out, patients with vein problems should pay closer attention to their hydration during this time. If you plan on being out of the AC, plan to also bring a water bottle along and avoid caffeine as much as possible.
4. Avoid Heels
   We recommend flats and sandals rather than high heels to help your calf muscles pump blood up from the leg to the heart. Wearing lower heels makes your calves work a little harder ensuring the correct flow of blood.
5. Wear Compression Stockings
   They may not be at the top of anyone’s list for hot summer fashions, but compression stockings put pressure on your legs that helps move blood up and away from your lower legs. Though you may not want to wear them outside during July and August for fear of overheating, wearing them regularly will prevent blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause or worsen vein problems.

Varicose veins and spider veins have ruined too many summers. To keep them from ruining this one, schedule an appointment with a Vein Specialist. Current treatments allow us to permanently treat affected veins with no downtime. Treatment of symptomatic varicose veins is covered by almost all insurances including Medicare and Medicaid.

Life is a beautiful journey. Don't let your legs slow you down.