Welcome to the Vascular Surgery and Vein Center

Welcome to the Vascular Surgery and Vein Center, a comprehensive vascular practice providing state-of-the-art care to patients throughout the tri-state area. Under the direction of board-certified surgeon Dr. Norman Chideckel, we utilize our advanced skills and many years of experience to help patients achieve clear, beautiful and healthy legs.

With our convenient Manhattan location, Dr. Chideckel offers patients a wide range of services to treat varicose and spider veins, deep vein thrombosis, and other vascular conditions, including:

Dedicated to helping patients achieve their desired results through the most effective and minimally invasive treatments available, Dr. Chideckel and his staff take the time to talk with each individual patient and address any concerns or questions they may have before undergoing treatment. Your comfort and satisfaction are among our top priorities.

To learn more about the services provided by Dr. Chideckel, please contact us to schedule an appointment. We always welcome new patients and look forward to meeting you.

Vascular Surgery & Vein Center
108 East 96th Street
Front 1
New York, NY 10128

Call us today at 212-993-6133 to schedule an appointment.

We now offer Telemedicine sessions. Please call us for more information or to schedule a Telemedicine appointment.

See Our Main Website At www.VeinsDoc.com
Blog Posts Are Below:

Category Archives: Varicose veins and exercise

What Type Of Exercises Are Helpful In Treating Varicose Veins?

What Type Of Exercises Are Helpful In Treating Varicose Veins? Most of us are not aware of what varicose veins are. They are a set of veins that develop underneath the surface of the skin. They are larger than the usual veins that become dilated and twist into each other.

A person may develop this condition due to many reasons, including genetics, pregnancy, living an unhealthy lifestyle, or performing tasks that include constant standing and heavy lifting. Obese people are also prone to developing varicose veins in legs or other parts of the body.

Exercises helpful in treating varicose veins
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There are numerous ways to treat this condition, including a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise. Some exercises can help prevent varicose veins from developing. However, in case you already have this condition, some exercises may do the opposite.

First, let’s have a look at the exercises that may not prove beneficial if you have varicose veins.

Treating Varicose Veins: Dangerous Exercises

If you want to treat the condition with care and prevent it from worsening, try to avoid the following exercises:

Running

Even though running is good for your health, it can worsen the symptoms. This is because running puts pressure on the legs, which can result in further swelling and pain in the affected area.

If running is an exercise that is part of your routine, try running on a softer surface. It will reduce strain on the legs, and stress on joints and feet. You can even wear compression stockings as this helps improve blood circulation. Thus, you won’t face any swelling, pain, or discomfort.

Weight Lifting

One of the main causes of developing varicose veins is lifting heavyweights. It increases strain and pressure on the abdomen and legs, which eventually blocks the blood flow to the heart. The blood starts accumulating in the veins, damaging the delicate vein valves. Hence, lifting weights would only result in the condition to worsen.

However, this doesn’t mean you should stop completely. Try to lift lighter weights and do more reps instead.

Tip: Exhale when you lift the weight and inhale when lowering the weights down.

Specific Leg Workouts

Putting any kind of pressure or overworking your legs can result in the varicose veins condition to become more severe. Avoid doing excessive lunges and squats, especially with weight.

Instead, do them without any weight and try to do less of them. Crunches can also exert pressure on the abdomen and leg veins, aggravating the symptoms of varicose veins.

Treating Varicose Veins: Beneficial Exercises

Now, let’s look into the exercises that are good for you and help treat the varicose veins. Make sure to include these exercises into your routine to treat the condition.

March/Walk

It is a no-brainer: Walking is a low-impact exercise that can keep you fit and healthy. It strengthens your calf muscles. You can also stand in one position and march. You don’t have to take any steps forwards or backward. This exercise will help pump blood from the veins to the heart, resulting in the blood to circulate more effectively.

Best exercises treating varicose veins
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Make sure to lift your knees properly and swing your arms. This will let you achieve maximum cardiovascular benefits.

Stretching

There is nothing better than an early morning stretch. This exercise has huge benefits for your veins and helps in strengthening the core. All the stretches are quite easy to do and allow the blood in your veins to flow more effectively.

Plus, the muscles that support your veins become stronger in the process. This exercise involves no weights at all. Thus there won’t be any sort of pressure on your legs or abdomen.

Cycling

This is a great exercise for the heart and to treat varicose veins. Cycling helps in building the leg and calf muscles; these muscles improve your vein health.

However, remember not to cycle for a long distance as that would put pressure on your legs. Also, in case you don’t have a bicycle, you could simply lie on your back and mimic the cycling movement of your legs in the air.

Exercises Helpful in Treating Varicose Veins: Conclusion

A healthy lifestyle is an open secret to lead to a healthy life. You can improve, prevent, and treat the symptoms of varicose veins following some easy steps. Regular exercise is one way to stay fit and improve vein health. However, strenuous workouts can worsen the symptoms of varicose veins.

So, make sure to begin the exercises with low impact activities, such as walking. Wear compression stocks if needed, and take small breaks if your job requires you to stand for long periods.

If the symptoms persist or get worse, contact the Vascular Surgery and Vein Center today. Dr. Norman Chideckel will examine your condition and discuss the best treatment options.

Vascular Surgery & Vein Center
108 East 96th Street
Front 1
New York, NY 10128
212-993-6133

NYC top vein surgeon talks about Vein Damage with Exercise

Potential Vein Damage With Exercise

In a past blog, I addressed the question as to the use of support stockings during exercise. As mentioned there has not been any proven scientific benefit to the use of support stockings during exercise, however, there has been evidence that using support stockings after exercise, during recovery, is beneficial. These seem to help with muscle recovery after aerobic activities.

I observe people working out at the gym, and as a vascular surgeon I have had the opportunity to evaluate patients at my office, who have sustained exercise related vein damage.

Firstly, with regards to upper extremity exercises, hyperabduction -or pulling the shoulders too far back, with weight lifting can cause a “scissoring” of the vein under the clavicle (collarbone). With repetitive motion, this may lead to an obstruction, or blockage, of this vein, causing swelling of the arm, and potential fatigue of the arm during daily activities. This issue has been mentioned in the previous blog with regards to varicose veins of the upper extremities.

Secondly, with regards to lower extremity exercises, using excessive weights-pushing to and past the limit-can lead to venous blood clots. Veins are a low flow blood vessel, and excessive pressure, stopping the blood flow for a small amount of time can lead to clotting. I have evaluated patients who have bench pressed upwards of 1000 pounds with their lower extremities who have developed as a result a venous blood clot.

Excessive straining during exercise may lead to a vein rupture, and or a bleeding episode, usually under the surface of the skin. It may also lead to the appearance of varicose veins, either of the upper or lower extremity, as the increasing muscle mass, push veins closer to the surface.

Words of caution:

Stay hydrated during exercise, with water, in order to maximize muscle performance. Energy drinks do have added electrolytes as well, and that may be of an added benefit.
Try using support stockings after exercise to aid in muscle recovery.
Eat a protein load within 30 minutes to an hour after the exercise to prevent muscle breakdown.

Remember that participating in exercise and aerobic activity is to help us stay fit. Pushing the limits may have more risk than reward.

If you have any questions or desire treatment for vein damage or injury, call Dr. Norman Chideckel, NYC’s top vein surgeon at (212)-993-613 today!

Maintaining Vein Health During Exercise

What can I do to help vein health during exercise?

With people working out at gyms at record rates, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a few thoughts regarding maintaining vein health during exercise.

During aerobic activities there is an increase in arterial blood flow to the muscles. Similarly, the venous system works harder to return this increased volume of blood back to the heart.

What to do during exercise for vein health

Maintain adequate hydration – plain water is the best, with no added sugar. However, sport drinks may add the benefit of electrolytes, such as potassium, which helps with muscle function.
Avoid hyperextension of joints – this may cause damage to the underlying veins by excess pressure. I often see people working out at the gym hyperextending or pulling back the shoulders too far which may lead to damage to the veins beneath the clavicle or collarbone.
Take frequent rests between sets – this, along with adequate hydration, will protect the muscles and veins from damage.

Does wearing support hose during exercise have a benefit for veins?

Many professional athletes wear support or compression hose when they compete. These seem to energize your muscles, preventing cramping and perhaps increasing performance. The clinical benefit of these support or compression hose seem to be after the exercise session, as they help in clearing the lactic acid that accumulates in the muscles during aerobic activities. Taking a page from the “pros”, it may make sense to give support hose a try.

Finally, remember that we excise to promote good health. Overdoing it has its dangers, and since most of us are not training to be professional athletes, there is no benefit in pushing it to the limits. Also, if you injure yourself, you will miss days at the gym.

To learn more about venous health or for any vein problems you may experience, call our office to schedule a consultation.