By John Hogg, MD, DABR, DABVLM, RPVI, RPhS, RVT, RVS
Founder, Medical Vein Clinic
In late September, we hosted free vascular screening events at our Stone Oak and Alamo Ranch clinics as part of National Vascular Disease Awareness Month. During those screenings and at the clinic daily, I see firsthand the unique vascular challenges that San Antonio’s adults face as they navigate their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
How Age and Lifestyle Impact Your Circulation
Many readers will recognize themselves in these stories.
Take Sarah, a 52-year-old who came in after months of ignoring the heavy, achy feeling in her legs. She’d been blaming it on getting older. “I thought it was just part of aging,” she told me. “I figured I had to live with it.”
Then there’s David, a 58-year-old retiree who spends his days working in his garden and workshop. He noticed his legs felt tired and swollen by evening but assumed it was normal after being active all day.
And Maria, a 49-year-old who works part-time while caring for her elderly mother. She’d noticed spider veins developing but kept putting off getting them evaluated because she was too busy taking care of everyone else’s health. This is often a pattern with caregivers: they manage others’ needs while ignoring what their own bodies are telling them.
Why Adults Over 45 Face Higher Risks
After treating thousands of patients over the years, I’ve learned that adults in their 40s, 50s, and 60s face a perfect storm of risk factors:
Daily Activity Patterns: Whether you’re spending time gardening, caregiving, working, or enjoying retirement activities, the combination of sitting and standing throughout your day can be hard on leg circulation. Your veins struggle to adjust between these different positions, and blood can start pooling in your lower legs.
The Pregnancy Factor (for women): Many women who had children earlier in life find that the effects of pregnancy on their veins become more noticeable as they age. Each pregnancy significantly increases venous pressure and can contribute to varicose veins that develop and worsen over time.
Hormonal Changes (for women): As women go through menopause, changing hormone levels can affect circulation. Estrogen changes can influence blood clotting risk, especially for women on hormone replacement therapy.
Family History: Vascular issues often run in families. If your parents or siblings dealt with leg vein problems, you’re at higher risk of developing them yourself.
Weight and Mobility Changes: As we age, changes in weight, activity levels, and mobility can all impact circulation. Even small changes in daily movement patterns can affect how well blood flows back to your heart.
Medical Conditions: Conditions common in this age group (like diabetes, high blood pressure, or arthritis) can all impact your vascular health.
Are Your Legs Trying to Tell You Something?
Many adults dismiss their symptoms as “just part of getting older.” Let me be clear: leg discomfort is not normal nor something you have to accept or live with because you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond.
Please pay attention if you’re experiencing:
- Legs that feel heavy or achy, especially later in the day
- Swelling in your ankles or feet
- Restless legs that keep you awake at night
- Spider veins or varicose veins that seem to be getting worse
- Leg cramps that wake you up
- Skin changes or discoloration on your lower legs
These aren’t just signs of aging. They’re your circulation system needing attention.
The Real Cost of Waiting
Addressing vascular health sooner rather than later pays off in health benefits and saving on future complications.
Early intervention: A consultation, maybe an ultrasound, possibly a minimally invasive treatment that takes 30-45 minutes with no downtime.
Waiting too long can lead to:
- More serious circulation problems requiring extensive treatment
- Chronic leg symptoms that limit your daily activities
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Skin changes or ulcers that are harder to heal
- Missing out on activities you enjoy because of leg discomfort
I’ve seen too many patients forced to limit their gardening, parenting or grandparenting duties, or travel plans because they ignored early warning signs. The numbers are concerning: vascular disease affects millions of Americans—-it kills 700,000 each year–with up to 90% being preventable or manageable through lifestyle changes and early treatment.
What You Can Do Right Now
After treating thousands of patients over the years, here’s what I recommend:
Make Vascular Health a Priority: Put your annual vascular screening on your calendar like any other important appointments.
Keep Moving: Simple feet movements activate your “calf pump,” which helps return blood to your heart. Take short walks throughout the day, do gentle leg exercises while watching TV, or try simple stretches. Whether you’re at home, running errands, or visiting family, keep those legs moving.
Consider Compression Stockings: High-quality compression stockings can be a game-changer for maintaining comfort and preventing swelling during daily activities. I recommend them for anyone who notices leg fatigue or swelling.
Travel Smart: For car trips or flights over two hours, wear compression socks, stay hydrated, and stop to walk around regularly. Don’t let circulation concerns limit your ability to visit family or enjoy travel.
Manage Overall Health: Your efforts to stay active, eat well, and manage conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure also protect your vascular health.
The Conversation We Need to Have
What strikes me most in my conversations with patients is the relief in their voices when I tell them that taking care of their vascular health isn’t complicated or overwhelming.
You don’t have to accept leg discomfort, fatigue, or worry about worsening symptoms as just part of aging. Many of my patients tell me they wish they’d addressed their concerns sooner. They worry their symptoms aren’t serious enough to mention. But here’s what I want readers to understand: addressing your vascular health isn’t being overly cautious. It’s ensuring you can continue enjoying your daily activities, hobbies, and time with loved ones comfortably for years to come.
Schedule a Screening Today
If anything in this article sounds familiar, don’t let concerns about cost or time delay your vascular health. At Medical Vein Clinic, we understand the needs of adults navigating health decisions in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Your circulation works for you 24/7, supporting every activity, every walk, every moment when you want to feel comfortable and confident.
To schedule your leg screening and evaluation, call Medical Vein Clinic at 210-622-8000 or email us at info@medicalveinclinic.com
Here’s to your legs feeling and looking better, and to your health! Healthy Legs Take You Further™.