A recent survey, conducted by the National Science Foundation, reported that Americans are the unhappiest they’ve been in 50 years. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, lockdowns, economic instability, and political unrest are enough to overwhelm anyone.

But how does one boost their level of happiness amidst a relentless pandemic? I believe that there are ways to stay healthy and achieve fulfillment in life if we focus on our priorities. I present to you, arguably, the two most important factors backed by science to help navigate through tumultuous times.

Stay Connected with Loved Ones

Harvard University conducted the longest study of adults for clues to leading healthy and happy lives. Analysis of the data collected over the course of 80+ years revealed startling information. Researchers reported that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships have a powerful influence on our health.

In his TED talk, Robert Waldinger, Director of the Harvard Study, states that many people tend to think that fame, fortune, and hard work will bring them happiness. The study found that social connections are the most important factor responsible for our well-being. Numerous other equally surprising correlations came out of this study, such as people’s level of satisfaction with their relationships at age 50 was a better predictor of physical health than their cholesterol levels were, and that marital satisfaction has a protective effect on mental health.

Waldinger stated in his TED talk, “Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains”.  He reported that those who kept warm relationships were found to live longer and happier while the loners tended to die earlier.

Take Care of Your Health

Many people are delaying their medical care waiting for normalcy to return, which is actually nowhere in sight. Another report indicated that 80% of adults are concerned about catching the Covid-19 virus in the emergency room and avoid seeking care, even during an emergency.

Several studies have shown that being happy has a positive impact on our health, correlating to a 13-26% reduction in the risk of heart disease., ,  One doesn’t need scientific evidence to recognize that happiness can be elusive in absence of good health. In fact, the constitution of the World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”.

At an organic level, we are composed of countless cells, each performing a function while subject to growth, repair, and replacement within our body. Cells form tissue that in turn form organ systems such as skin, brain, and the vascular system.

Food is necessary for the cell to function, hence a person needs to have a balanced diet. Likewise, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and management of stress ensure proper bodily functions. The slightest breakdown in one part of our body can adversely affect various organ systems, interfering with our ability to enjoy a fulfilling happy life. Breakdown in the venous system in our legs is no exception to the interconnectedness.

Although vein problems affect almost half of the adult population, there are many who are living with heaviness in their legs, chronic fatigue, leg cramps, and restlessness in their legs but unaware of the association.

Discomfort in the legs and the inability to get a restful sleep at night due to restless leg syndrome has a compounding effect leading to a further reduction in the ability to stay active. Reduction in the activity of the calf pump leads to worsening of chronic venous insufficiency. One can see how this forms a self-perpetuating cycle leading to the deterioration of overall health and feeling of well-being.

To make matters worse, patients are unable to make a correlation between veins and their symptoms often confusing spider veins with the diseased veins present deep inside the leg responsible for chronic venous insufficiency. Left untreated, the condition continues to worsen and may manifest as frequent skin infections (cellulitis), profuse bleeding, poorly healing sores in the legs, and life-threatening blood clots.

Gone are the days of painful vein stripping with prolonged recovery times. The latest treatment options such as Laser ablation, Varithena, and the revolutionary Venaseal (medical superglue) are minimally invasive, safe, and very effective. There is minimal to no discomfort during the procedures and there is no downtime. You can start the New Year with healthy, pain-free beautiful legs.

Always remember that life is a beautiful journey… and you will need your legs for it!

Sam Gupta, M.D., MPH

Click to Play Video

I was born and raised in St. Joseph. I work at Missouri Western State University. I have two children and six grandchildren.

I had had pain in my leg for quite some time. I had been to my primary care doctor and [was] told that I had phlebitis. They would give me medication and it would never completely go away. It finally got to the point that I began to worry whether or not I had a blood clot, because it was very sore to touch and it was a bit warm. So I went to an urgent care clinic and was told ‘no, it’s not a blood clot’ and sent home. And I just felt like there was something else going on.

And so – after my friend had been here and had such a great experience – I thought maybe this is what I need to check out. So I made an appointment and came in for a consultation and, sure enough, two blood clots were found the day that I was here.

The two big things that I noticed with my problems that I had in my leg were: it was very painful to touch. It would also be sore in that area. Sometimes, when I walked, I would have pain. And then at night I had terrible leg cramps, and I would have restless legs. They would be twitching all the time.

The pain in my leg would bother me quite a bit when I would be driving or sitting for a long period of time. And I have to travel a lot for my job. And there were times my leg would just be so sore just sitting in the car.

Well, when I first heard about it from my coworker, and she was explaining how you had helped her and what a positive experience that she had had, I started thinking ‘you know, maybe that’s what I really should check into and see if that might be able to solve my problems. If I came to you, I could find out for sure what was going on with my leg. And so, of course, I was a little apprehensive coming, and I was apprehensive with the treatment, but honestly, it was not a big deal at all, and it was so worth doing it.

I would say that my experience from the first time I walked in the door until now has been very positive. Everyone has been very professional. The staff I consider friends, as well as the people who are taking care of me. Dr. Gupta has been excellent in educating me and making sure that I was comfortable. And I’ve always been encouraged to be back in touch if I have any concerns about any issues with my legs.

The outcome from my treatment has been that I am able to go to sleep at night knowing that I am not going to wake up with any cramping in my legs. I have no problems with the restless legs anymore, and it’s just nice to be able to relax. The biggest change it’s made is that I am able to sleep at night, and get a good night's sleep, and not have to worry about waking up because of cramping.

Not only would I recommend that someone with vein problems come here, but I have recommended someone with vein problems come here. We were having a conversation about the problems in my legs and the problems in her legs, and she hadn’t really considered that it could be a vein issue. And since then, she has gone for treatment, as well, so.

Because heat dilates the veins, many vein issues increase during the summertime. As the veins expand with higher temperatures, leaky veins can get even worse, leading to more pooling of blood in your legs and problems associated with it such as pain, tiredness, cramps, swelling, and clots. There is an increased chance of seeing new spider veins, pain, and symptoms. Here are 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 is one of the best ways to 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 circulation overall. Also, cooling exercises like swimming and brisk evening walks are best because the lower temperatures help prevent the blood vessels from dilating.

3 Stay Hydrated

Keeping your body properly hydrated will help it effectively circulate blood, heal injuries faster, and allow for healthier skin. Though it seems like a no-brainer, patients with vein problems should pay close attention to their hydration levels during the summer when the heat can easily dry anyone out. If you plan on being out of the A/C, plan to also bring a water bottle along. Avoid caffeine.

4 Avoid Heels

We recommend flats and sandals rather than high heels as they keep your calf muscles from effectively pumping blood out of the leg. Wearing lower heels makes your calves work a little harder, keeping blood pumping throughout your legs and back to your heart where it belongs.

5 Elevate Your Legs

Since veins in our legs have to work against gravity to send blood back to the heart, it helps them if you take periodic 15-minute breaks, elevating your legs above the level of your heart. This facilitates the flow of blood back to the heart and helps “empty” some of the blood pooled in your legs.

6 Calf Pumps

Our calf muscles play a very important role in helping “push” blood upwards towards the heart against gravity. Sitting or standing for prolonged periods renders the calf pump inactive. We recommend taking breaks to walk or stand on tiptoes for 10-second intervals throughout the day whenever possible. Brisk walking, bicycling, using a stepper, and swimming is some of the best ways to strengthen calf muscles.

7 Wear Compression Stockings

They may not be at the top of anyone’s list of hot summer fashions, but compression stockings put pressure on your legs which helps to 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 may prevent blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause or worsen vein problems.

Varicose and spider veins have ruined too many summers. To keep them from ruining this one, schedule a free consultation and complimentary vein screening at Alsara Vein Clinic at 816-396-0245 to set up a Consultation today. Current treatments allow us to permanently treat affected veins with no downtime and you can be rid of your compression stockings within days of treatments. Many insurers, including Medicare, offer coverage.