Venous stasis ulcers are wounds, often found on the feet and legs, that take longer to heal.
They may start as a small sore, but left untreated, they expand, causing tissue damage and potentially becoming life-threatening, as the open wound is a magnet for bacteria and could lead to infections.
They most commonly occur in people who have circulation issues to the extremities, often due to diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension), which can make the venous ulcer heal even slower.
However, another factor that could be contributing to your venous ulcers is your job.
Our experts at Goldman Vein Institute — Alexander Goldman, MD, RVT, RPVI, and Saluja Varghese-Goldman, MD, RVT, RPVI — explain how your daily activities can either lower or raise your risk.
Jobs that involve you standing still for hours, and not walking around, can turn gravity against you, as the blood will go down to your extremities, but if your calf muscles aren’t used enough, the blood may have difficulty returning.
When you’re stationary, your calf muscles become underused, and blood starts to pool into the legs, leading to poor blood flow.
Cashiers, hairdressers, barbers, assembly line factory workers, and teachers who stay on their feet but don’t have the opportunity to move around much might be at a higher risk.
Sitting down for prolonged periods of time can also pose a risk, but in a different way. When you sit down for long periods, the blood flow slows down to the extremities, and the calf muscles, which play an important part in bringing blood back up, are again inactive.
Desk jobs, call center agents, and drivers might be at risk due to the long hours spent sitting down.
The key here is keeping your blood from pooling in the legs and using those calf muscles.
Taking a few breaks every once in a while by walking in place or stretching can wake up those calf muscles. Elevating the legs while sitting down also helps, as it prevents the blood from pooling in your extremities and improves blood flow.
Compression stockings are also helpful, as they place light pressure on the muscles, helping the blood flow back to your heart.
All of these measures prevent ulcers as they promote healthy blood flow, which in turn improve your ability to heal tissues and fight off infections.
Because of how slowly they heal and the high risk for complications, venous ulcers require immediate treatment. Untreated venous ulcers can spread to the bone, which raises the risk for an amputation.
So if you notice one, even if it doesn’t hurt or if it’s small, contact our team at Goldman Vein Institute for prompt treatment so you won’t have to worry about infections or other issues that may arise. Call our offices in Jupiter or Wellington, Florida, or request an appointment online today.
