If you’ve noticed twisted, bulging veins on your legs or experienced aching, swelling, or heaviness, you may be dealing with varicose veins. While lifestyle and age play a role in vein health, there’s another powerful factor you can’t change: your genetics. Understanding the genetic role in varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency can shed light on your risk and how to stay proactive about vascular health.
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that sit just beneath the skin’s surface. They typically appear on the legs and occur when blood doesn’t flow back to the heart efficiently. This happens because the valves in your veins, which are designed to prevent blood from flowing backward, stop working properly. As a result, blood pools in the veins, causing swelling, discoloration, and the lumpy, rope-like texture associated with varicose veins.
Common varicose vein symptoms include swelling, heaviness, and pain, especially after standing or sitting for long periods. While they’re often only a cosmetic concern, they can sometimes lead to serious complications like ulcers or blood clots.
Studies show that genetics play a significant role in your likelihood to develop varicose veins. In fact, up to nine out of 10 people with varicose veins have a family history of the condition. If one of your parents has varicose veins, there’s a good chance you’ll develop them, too. If both parents are affected, your risk is even higher. Hereditary factors such as weak vein walls or poor valve function are often passed down through generations. Understanding the connection between genetics and varicose veins highlights the need for prevention and early action.
Your family history is one of the strongest indicators of whether you might develop varicose veins, but it’s not the only factor. Additional risk contributors include gender, age, obesity, pregnancy, and prolonged periods of standing or sitting.
If multiple relatives have had varicose veins, you should adopt habits that support vein health early. Additionally, speak with a specialist if you notice any swelling, pain, or visible vein issues to address problems before they worsen.
Even if your genetics put you at higher risk, you can take plenty of steps to improve your vein health and reduce the likelihood of developing varicose veins. Lifestyle changes might not fully prevent varicose veins, but they can significantly minimize discomfort and delay their progression. Among the ways to maintain your vascular health are:
If you’re concerned about your risk for varicose veins or are already experiencing symptoms, seek care from Twin Lakes Heart Center in Boca Raton, FL. Our vein specialists provide exceptional treatment options for varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Don’t wait until discomfort gets in the way of daily life. Contact us today to take charge of your vascular health.
High blood pressure affects millions of people, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Shedding even a small amount of excess weight can greatly impact your blood pressure and overall heart health. In this blog, we’ll explore how weight influences blood pressure, discuss what hypertension is, and provide practical ways to control blood pressure.
Weight plays a significant role in how well your heart works. Carrying excess body fat, particularly around your abdomen, can lead to higher blood pressure because your heart needs to pump harder to supply blood throughout your body. This increased strain on your heart can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, making it even harder for blood to flow efficiently. The connection is clear: weight gain often leads to higher blood pressure, while losing weight lightens the burden on your heart.
Hypertension is a condition where the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. A normal blood pressure reading is around 120/80 mm Hg. Anything above 140/90 mm Hg is generally classified as high blood pressure and can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Hypertension is dangerous because it usually doesn’t have any symptoms until damage has already been done. That’s why regular monitoring and lifestyle changes are so crucial.
Weight loss reduces the strain on your arteries and helps your heart pump more efficiently. Even small improvements matter. For every two pounds you lose, you can lower your systolic blood pressure by about one point. When combined with other healthy habits, weight loss can be a powerful, natural way to regain control of your blood pressure.
If you’re ready to take action, we suggest these proven strategies for lowering your blood pressure:
At Twin Lakes Heart Center in Boca Raton, FL, we specialize in helping our patients live their healthiest lives. Our experts offer personalized weight loss guidance and heart-healthy treatment plans to help you gain control of your blood pressure. Contact us today to get started.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, but you have more control over your heart than you realize. Whether you’re already health-conscious or planning to make heart-friendly changes, understanding the risk factors for heart disease is the first step toward effectively protecting your heart.
Anyone can develop heart disease, but certain individuals face a higher likelihood based on both controllable and uncontrollable factors. Your age, family history, lifestyle choices, and even where you live can affect your risk.
Adults aged 45 and older – particularly men – are most prone to heart problems. Factors like high blood pressure or living with chronic conditions such as diabetes can further increase your chances. of developing heart disease. However, many risk factors are tied to lifestyle choices, so taking proactive measures can significantly reduce your risk.
Being familiar with the risk factors for heart disease can help you make smarter health decisions. Lifestyle changes can mitigate controllable risks, and every small measure you take improves your overall heart health. Common heart disease risk factors include:
Uncontrollable Risk Factors of Heart Disease
Controllable Risk Factors of Heart Disease
If you have one or more heart disease risk factors, regular check-ups are essential. Early detection allows for effective management and slower progression of heart issues. Common diagnostic tools include cholesterol tests, EKGs, and stress tests, which are all designed to measure how well your heart functions. They can also identify any abnormalities. If you’re concerned about your heart health, a doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or monitoring to lower your risks before they become serious heart conditions.
Preventing heart disease starts with addressing the risk factors you can control. Small, sustainable steps are key. Even simple shifts toward a healthier lifestyle can make profound differences. Among your possible changes are:
If you’re in Boca Raton, FL, Twin Lakes Heart Center can help you on your heart health journey. From identifying your risk factors for heart disease to creating personalized prevention and treatment plans, our expert team is committed to keeping your heart strong. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss proactive ways to lower your risk factors for heart disease.
Microneedling has been gaining popularity in the skincare world for good reason. This minimally invasive treatment improves skin texture, reduces fine lines, and even addresses scars. But how does microneedling work? If you’re considering this treatment or simply curious about its benefits, learn everything you need to know below.
Microneedling is a cosmetic procedure that involves using tiny, sterile needles to create controlled micro-injuries on the skin. These micro-injuries trigger your skin’s natural healing process, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. This natural repair process makes microneedling an effective way to improve skin tone, texture, and overall appearance. Unlike more invasive treatments, microneedling is relatively quick. It offers lasting results, making it ideal for anyone seeking a non-surgical skincare solution.
Skincare enthusiasts love microneedling for its many benefits. Whether you’re addressing specific skin concerns or just want a healthy glow, microneedling can do the trick. Common reasons people opt for this treatment include:
Are you wondering how the microneedling process works? Here’s what you can expect during a microneedling session:
Microneedling is a safe and effective treatment for most people. It’s suitable for a range of skin types and tones. Ideal candidates include people hoping to treat issues like fine lines, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.
However, if you have active acne or eczema, you may need to wait until your skin clears before starting treatment. A professional consultation is necessary to ensure that microneedling treatment is the right fit for you.
A question on many patients’ minds is, “How long does it take for microneedling to work?” While many people notice improvements within 14 days, optimal results often appear after 4-6 weeks. Your skin needs time to produce new collagen and elastin, so patience is key. Immediately after the procedure, you may feel like you have a mild sunburn. That’s normal and will typically fade away in a couple of days. With proper aftercare, you’ll see smoother, rejuvenated skin in no time.
If you’re seeking microneedling treatment in Boca Raton, FL, the professionals at Twin Lakes Heart Center are here to help. Our expert team specializes in microneedling treatment to ensure you achieve glowing, healthy skin safely and effectively. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
You probably expect certain changes as you grow older. It may be harder to lose weight, your skin feels dryer, and you may find you need to use reading glasses. What you may not expect, though, is more prominent veins. It makes sense, because as we age, our bodies experience wear and tear, and that includes our circulatory systems. Varicose veins may also be caused by prolonged standing or even genetics. The bulging, ropey veins known as varicose veins affect millions of people globally, and they are not just a cosmetic concern. Left untreated, these unsightly veins can become uncomfortable as well, which can lead to serious health issues for some people.
Of course, varicose veins don’t just happen as people age, and they don’t start out huge and ropey. Your vascular system is vast, with about 60,000 miles of arteries, veins, and capillaries. Your heart has to push blood through these miles and miles of vessels, and certain conditions can make this more difficult. Problems occur when the blood vessels work less efficiently than they should, making them unable to help the heart move all that blood. Healthy veins have one-way valves, which enable them to keep blood flowing back towards the heart. These little valves work in tandem with your heart and other muscles to keep the blood circulating. This is especially important in the legs, where gravity is working against the process of getting the blood back up to the heart. When ageing, the hormones associated with pregnancy and other changes, obesity, genetics, or even too much standing interfere with your ability to keep this blood moving, the valves can weaken and allow blood to pool in the veins of the legs or feet.
If your veins are bulging, or you notice strange spider veins on your ankles and feet, you may easily recognize these symptoms as signs of varicose veins. However, they are not the only ones you should be careful to notice. If your ankles, legs, or feet begin to swell, or you notice aching or heaviness after a prolonged period of standing or sitting, it could be varicose veins. You might also become aware of cramping or throbbing in the legs, itching or burning near the affected veins, or skin discoloration. Your symptoms may worsen at night. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor, because untreated varicose veins can result in complications like ulcers, edema, and uncontrolled bleeding.
If you are diagnosed before your varicose veins become severe, you may be able to control them and keep them from getting worse through lifestyle changes. Losing weight, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding cigarettes and tobacco are all good ways to improve symptoms and slow the progression of varicose veins. Your doctor may also recommend wearing compression hose and avoiding long periods of sitting or standing. If the condition has progressed further than can be managed by lifestyle changes, you may benefit from procedures like:
When you are looking for expert care in treating vascular conditions, the talented team of the top vein specialists at Twin Lakes Heart Center are here for you. Since 1993, we have been providing cardiovascular care for the community in Boca Raton, offering unparalleled care through a preventative, patient-centered approach. We are committed to building life-long relationships with our patients, helping them achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. By adopting leading-edge technologies and taking a comprehensive heart health approach to heart disease, we are able to provide enhanced outcomes for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us through our website.
If you are not familiar with the term “semaglutide”, you have certainly heard this type of medication called by its brand names, like Ozempic® and Wegovy®. A semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) medication works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone produced in the small intestine. Interestingly, these medications were not designed for weight loss, despite their growing popularity in that role. Meant to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, these medications help regulate blood glucose levels and slow down digestion. Understanding the science behind semaglutide medications can help you understand whether semaglutide is the right option for you.
As mentioned, semaglutide targets the naturally occurring GLP-1, harnessing its abilities to improve the body’s weight management mechanisms. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, and GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutides) work with hormones, neural circuits, and neurotransmitters, to regulate appetite and metabolism. As a diabetic medication, it’s highly effective. For weight loss, it’s a game changer. With semaglutide, weight loss is typically clinically significant. Here is how it works:
If you have ever taken a weight loss medication, you know that some of them can be detrimental to your health, particularly your cardiovascular health. The good news? A semaglutide injection is not dangerous to your heart. In fact, in 2024, Wegovy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for reducing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established risk factors. By helping to control blood sugar and excess weight, semaglutides can cut the risk of cardiovascular disease significantly.
Caring for your body means caring for your heart, and when you need routine heart monitoring, you will find no better care than at Twin Lakes Heart Center. Since 1993, we have been providing cardiovascular care and medical weight loss treatment for the community in Boca Raton, offering unparalleled care through a preventative, patient-centered approach. We are committed to building life-long relationships with our patients, helping them achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. By adopting leading-edge technologies and taking a comprehensive heart health approach to heart disease, we are able to provide enhanced outcomes for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us through our website.
Spider veins are unsightly and uncomfortable. These damaged blood vessels and clots below the skin’s surface get their name from their web-like appearance, but they are actually not veins, but capillaries, venules, and arterioles. Whatever they are, they are not something you want, but the good news is that they can be treated! For spider vein removal, laser or injection techniques can be used, but which is the best option? Here, we will look at both treatment techniques, the pros and cons of each, and how to choose the best option for your spider veins.
Sometimes, small blood vessels under the skin weaken and expand, and this is what causes spider veins. They can occur anywhere on the body, but they’re most commonly seen on the face or the legs. The cause of spider veins is not completely understood, but some of the contributing factors include hormonal changes, genetic predisposition, injury, or connective tissue diseases. People are at higher risk for spider veins if they stand or sit for long stretches of time, are obese, are pregnant or on birth control, are always out in the sun, are current or former smokers, or have family members with spider veins or varicose veins. They can be uncomfortable and itchy, but people usually have them removed for cosmetic reasons.
The two primary treatments for spider veins use lasers or injections to accomplish essentially the same purpose- destroying the damaged veins. The treatment using an injection is called sclerotherapy, and it is designed to cause the blood vessel to collapse and dissolve into the body. Also called chemical ablation, it involves injecting a sclerosant agent into the damaged veins. These injections begin to work immediately, and patients see results as soon as they receive treatment. Laser therapy targets the pigments in the blood to heat up the vessel without affecting the surrounding tissues. It is safe and precise, but if the skin is exposed to sun, it can result in burns. It takes time for laser treatment to work, and results are not usually noticeable for a few days.
Choosing between treatments is a matter of personal preference, under the guidance of your doctor. For most people, sclerotherapy offers many advantages over spider veins. It can treat any size of spider veins and can even be used for varicose veins. Laser treatment, on the other hand, is most effective on veins that are shallow and sparse. Lasers only work on smaller veins, because light energy cannot target depths of more than a few millimeters without damaging the tissue around the vein. Laser treatments take more treatment sessions than sclerotherapy, making injection treatment more cost-effective. On the other hand, for people who are nervous about needles, laser treatment may be a better option. Another consideration is that some people are allergic to the chemicals used in sclerotherapy, in which case, lasers are a much safer form of treatment.
When you are looking for expert advice and care for the treatment of spider veins and other vascular conditions, the talented team of the top vein specialists at Twin Lakes Heart Center are here for you. Since 1993, we have been providing cardiovascular care for the community in Boca Raton, offering unparalleled care through a preventative, patient-centered approach. We are committed to building life-long relationships with our patients, helping them achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. By adopting leading-edge technologies and taking a comprehensive heart health approach to heart disease, we are able to provide enhanced outcomes for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us through our website.
Stress is a reality of life and, in itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, it is the body’s natural response to high-stakes situations, designed as a survival mechanism. When a person faces a stressful situation, the body responds by releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, to prepare for a fight or flight response. Adrenaline increases the body’s energy, raising the heart rate as well as blood pressure. Cortisol sends a rush of glucose into the bloodstream, while also narrowing the arteries. What’s more, more glucose is released by norepinephrine, which also raises the heart rate and increases blood flow to the muscles. In acute situations, this is all helpful for survival. In our modern lives, when stress becomes chronic and these responses are ongoing, they can be hazardous to cardiovascular health. Understanding how stress impacts the heart is important, because the signs are not always obvious until stress has caused severe damage.
When people live under constant pressure, the impact of stress on the heart can be serious. Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and inflammation, and each of these conditions can raise the risk of heart disease. What’s more, when people feel stressed, they often practice unhealthy coping strategies like smoking, overeating, or drinking too much alcohol, and these can further increase cardiovascular risk factors. Of course, people are unique, and everyone responds to stress differently. Often, we don’t understand how stress is affecting us, or how chronic tension is harming our bodies. For instance, people who eat too much due to stress may gain weight, increasing their blood pressure and risk of diabetes. Similarly, lack of sleep due to worry can increase cortisol levels, which can increase blood sugar and body weight. All of these factors can compromise heart health. Unfortunately, while we might stop smoking or limit our alcohol consumption to improve our health, it might not occur to us that our chronic stress is playing a similarly negative role. Some conditions, like high blood pressure, can present no symptoms, yet have a lasting impact on health. On the other hand, some patients experience symptoms like chest pain and palpitations that have no discernable medical cause, but are a reaction to stress.
What can be done to keep stress from damaging your heart? While it’s impossible to eliminate stress from your life, there are certainly steps that can be taken to manage stress.
Whether you are worried about the impact of stress on the heart, or you are concerned about your cardiovascular health in general, it is important to have routine heart monitoring by a practice you can trust. When you are looking for expert care in treating cardiovascular conditions, the top cardiologist at Twin Lakes Heart Center is here for you. Since 1993, we have been providing cardiovascular care for the community in Boca Raton, offering unparalleled care through a preventative, patient-centered approach. We are committed to building life-long relationships with our patients, helping them achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. By adopting leading-edge technologies and taking a comprehensive heart health approach to heart disease, we are able to provide enhanced outcomes for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us through our website.
You may have heard that sitting is the new smoking, and that is not really an overstatement of the dangers of physical inactivity. In fact, a recent study comparing the American Heart Association’s “Simple 7” cardiovascular health risk factors found that a lack of physical activity raised the risk of cardiovascular disease by a startling 65 percent. The “Simple 7” guidelines were established in 2010, and include smoking, BMI, fasting glucose, diet, physical activity, cholesterol, and blood pressure as measurable factors to help determine cardiovascular risk. In the study, six of the seven factors were analyzed, with diet left out because of the difficulty of accurate assessment. Of all the factors studied, though, the information learned about exercise is perhaps the most surprising, with lack of exercise ranking as a higher risk factor than high cholesterol, and nearly as high as smoking.
Why is there such a connection between cardiovascular disease and physical inactivity? To understand this, it helps to know what happens to a body that is sedentary.
Here is the good news: you don’t have to run marathons or be an athlete to reduce your risk of heart disease. Simply exercising during your leisure time may be enough to significantly improve your heart health and decrease cardiovascular risk. Ideally, spend at least 30 minutes, five days a week, doing some form of moderate activity that gets your heart pumping. Walking, running, swimming, cycling, and playing tennis are all good examples of this kind of exercise.
When you are looking for expert care in maintaining your heart health, the talented team of skilled professionals at Twin Lakes Heart Center is here for you. Since 1993, we have been providing cardiovascular and preventative care and maintenance for the community in Boca Raton, offering unparalleled care through a preventative, patient-centered approach. We are committed to building life-long relationships with our patients, helping them achieve a heart-healthy lifestyle. By adopting leading-edge technologies and taking a comprehensive heart health approach to heart disease, we are able to provide enhanced outcomes for a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us through our website.
