Dr. Soffer is board certified in cardiovascular disease and internal medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. At Soffer Health Institute, he specializes in a variety of diagnostic testing and treatments for cardiovascular conditions and is leading the way in exemplary vein care.
Vein issues can worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s important that we stay healthy while we stay home to free up capacity for the frontline hospital-based caregivers to take care of the severely ill COVID-19 patients.
Stay-at-home orders to combat the spread of coronavirus can have a concerning potential side effect for some. As many people are working from home and spending long hours streaming their favorite TV shows and movies, lack of basic exercise can ensue. That's concerning for health officials. Researchers have continuously found that sitting for long periods is bad for your health. It can increase the risk of leg blood clots, heart disease, diabetes and worse according to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
In fact, on average, one American dies of a blood clot every six minutes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Blood clots are often diagnosed in one leg or the other, and can cause pain, swelling and redness. And the thing is, you don't always have symptoms, which makes it tricky for patients to know what's going on and sometimes even for doctors to figure out. When blood clots form in the veins, it can lead to part of the clot traveling to the lungs and causing blockage, called a pulmonary embolism. The symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath which are often similar to the symptoms of coronavirus. Thus, it is imperative that we all better understand the importance of vein health as a broader picture of cardiovascular health particularly during this pandemic.
How can you help yourself?
- Take 5-minute walk breaks each hour. Grab some water from the kitchen or get up and stretch during a TV commercial beak.
- Make sure you have enough space to stretch your legs if you are working from home. Try not to cross your legs for long periods.
- Keep your legs moving if you're working from home. Search YouTube videos for home workouts.
- Wear properly-fitted medical grade compression socks if you have known vein issues, leg swelling, cramps or obvious varicose veins.
- Get a simple leg ultrasound if you have risk factors or any leg symptoms. These are considered essential services and can save lives.
Bottom line is that vein circulation is 50% of everyone's total circulation or 180 Degrees of the 360 Degree circle that it takes to move blood around our bodies. If we don’t take care of our circulation, everything becomes higher risk. Take some time to understand it and make sure your loved ones are aware and discuss it with their clinicians.
Learn more about the benefits of compression garments and therapy to improve circulation. Leave questions for Dr. Soffer in the comments section below. We will do our best to respond within 48 hours.
Juzo’s Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak
Ohio’s Governor announced that manufacturing facilities can resume operations as part of the phased re-opening of the state. Effective Monday, May 4, Juzo will be manufacturing at our full capacity. Rest assured that we have implemented all of the recommended COVID-19 prevention precautions for the continued safety of our employees and customers.
We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and well. Thank you for your continued support.
Your Juzo Family