Studies show that there may be a number of positive health benefits for those who drink alcohol in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men on any single day, not as an average over several days, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Additionally, it is the amount of alcohol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of alcoholic drink. One twelve-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one five-ounce glass of wine or one and a half-ounce shot of liquor.
However, excessive drinking both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking is associated with numerous health problems, including high blood pressure and liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells). In fact, one of the most common alcohol effects on blood vessels is high blood pressure.
Although limited amounts of alcohol can cause the veins to relax and expand, consuming more alcohol than the advised amounts can cause the veins to constrict. The heart then needs to work harder as blood vessels become narrower, causing blood pressure to rise. High blood pressure can also cause smaller vessels to be obstructed entirely, starving skin cells of oxygen, and resulting in red and blotchy skin.
Therefore, although alcohol doesn’t necessarily cause varicose veins, drinking too much can put a strain on the circulatory system. It may also worsen symptoms, such as swelling, the sensation of heaviness or tiredness of the legs.
If you are experiencing symptoms of varicose veins, it’s important to have your legs thoroughly examined by a varicose vein specialist. A specialist vein doctor can offer two highly-effective non-surgical treatments to help alleviate varicose veins and to help avoid serious complications, such as leg ulcers or deep vein thrombosis.
With sclerotherapy for varicose veins and endovenous laser ablation, no scalpels or sutures are utilized and there are no long-lasting scars or keloids. There’s minimal discomfort, and most treatments are characterized as being virtually painless. With these modern therapies, most people can resume their daily activities immediately after treatment. Additionally, most major health insurance carriers provide coverage for the treatment of vein disease and venous insufficiency when medically necessary.
If you would like more information regarding symptoms of vein disease or laser surgery for varicose veins, please contact the Goldman Vein Institute today at one of our two convenient locations:
Jupiter 561-625-9853 or Wellington 561-790-4550 or visit us at www.goldmanveininstitute.com.
At the Goldman Vein Institute, our mission is to provide our patients with comprehensive care for varicose veins, spider veins, and other conditions caused by venous insufficiency. Our highly-qualified and experienced, board-certified vein specialists, Dr. Goldman and Dr. Varghese-Goldman, combine their extensive knowledge and experience, with the latest innovations in vein treatments.
With our offices in Jupiter and Wellington Florida, the Goldman Vein Institute serves patients from Stuart, Hobe Sound, Tequesta, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Hialeah, Sunny Isles, Bay Harbor, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, Aventura, Surfside, Hallandale, and Hollywood, and we welcome patients across South Florida to visit our state-of-the-art vein centers, where we provide the latest in vein treatment technology.
