There’s a swank new beauty salon in the suburb, just outside New York City. The hairstylists and nail technicians are friendly, the ever-present rock beast is funky, and the atmosphere is charge with fun. The stylists’ chairs circle the “nail bar” – a full-fledged mahogany getup with barstool – where the nail technicians shake and stir their high-gloss enamels and listen to their patrons’ stories like any good barkeeper would.

Cozy, comfortable, and decidedly hip, this salon’s a place any client might want to try out, but it’s far from a nail technician’s dream job. Like their Cheer’s counterparts, these nail designing “bartenders” are on their feet all day. And that can lead to tired, strained legs and even circulation disorders, resulting in leg vein disease.

Traditionally, nail technicians have been able to escape the discomfort and health risks that their hairstyling peers endure because nail technicians don’t usually spend extended hours on their feet. But nail technicians do face a potential problem if they work standing at a nail bar or even if they sit still for hours at a time.

The problem is, standing – and even sitting – in the same position for long lengths of time is just plain bad for your circulation.

“Standing puts pressure on legs, allowing blood to pool in select areas,” notes Dr. Richard Rosenfeld of Vein Clinics of America, a vein disorder treatment practice headquartered in Chicago, Ill. “We all need to move our calf muscles to keep blood flowing properly through our legs. The calf muscles act as muscle pumps. When the pump is compromised – as it is when you stand still for long periods – the problems start.”

These problems manifest themselves manifest themselves in different forms; the most common are small vein disease, also called spider veins, and large vein disease, known as varicose vein. Spider veins are thread-like broken veins, usually bluish-red, and can appear as isolated veins or in clusters. The varicose variety are usually bulging, bluish, and rope-like in appearance. Common symptoms of both disorders include heavy, tired legs, itching and burning sensation, swollen ankles, leg cramps, restless legs, and throbbing.

Other factor can cause or adversely affect vein disease, including the influence of estrogen, pregnancy, hormonal changes, weight gain, heredity factors, and leg injuries. These vein problems begin when faulty valves allow blood to pool in the vein, which then loses elasticity, discolor, and enlarges. In its most severe form. This condition can worsen to leg ulcers (non-healing open wounds).

NOT JUST MOM’S PROBLEM

Vein disease is not just “Mom’s problem” – it can strike adult women at any age. “In fact, the majority of sufferers are between the ages 25 and 45,” says Rosenfeld.

Geraldine, a salon owner in Worth, Ill., who asked that we not use her last name, agrees. “I started having major problems with the varicose veins when I was 21,” she recalls. “A big misconception about vein disease is that people think it is only associated with the elderly.”

Geraldine notes that a number of factors contributed for her self-described horrible condition. Her great-grandmother had a problems worsened with each of her three pregnancies. “But most of all, I think it’s because I’m on my feet so much,” she says, estimating that she spends a minimum of eight hours a day standing in the same spot. “Because of the nature of my work, I’m forced to stand in a similar position each and every day.”

Eventually, the physical and emotional pain of her condition forced Geraldine to seek medical help. “By the end of the day, my legs would be burning and throbbing and then they’d go into spasm – terrible, uncontrollable shaking. But what was even worse for me than the pain and the unsightliness of my condition was the fact that I couldn’t even let my kids sit on my lap because it hurt too much.”

At age 30, Geraldine went for treatment. Recommended to the Vein Clinics of America by a family physician, she says. “The standard treatment at the clinics is injection of the veins, and I hate needles. I was put off,” she says “Fortunately, the needles were so fine, all I felt was a slight pinching sensation. The pain I’d had before was much worse than the prick of the needles.”

This injection method, known as sclerotherapy, is not new to the medical community. “It’s been around for years, notes Rosenfeld. What is new are the technologies being combined with the procedure for the most advance treatment of small and large vein disease.

Very important in the treatment arena is the use of sclerotherapy itself. “The traditional procedure of removing varicose veins was to strip them away – having a doctor literally pull them out.” says Rosenfeld. “That procedure is painful and not always effective because the varicosity may run deeper than just the veins showing on a leg’s surface.”

The newest technology, and arguably the least painful, involves the use of lasers to remove unwanted veins. To accurately and effectively treat leg veins that can’t readily be seen, the sclerotherapy procedure includes the guidance of ultrasound – a machine that transmit s and receive sound waves to project an image onto a screen (think sonar machine) – enabling doctors to “see” deep into the legs.

Rosenfeld is quick to point out that the laser procedure, when combined with good follow-up care, which includes immediate walking to get circulation flowing followed by a two-to four-hour rest period with legs elevated, has the “maximal beneficial effect.”

Geraldine agrees. “I had procedure a year ago. Although they didn’t guarantee that new varicose veins wouldn’t form, so far I haven’t noticed any. I try to follow the rules by limiting my time on my feet and elevating my legs whenever possible, and that little extra effort has paid off. Not only do my legs look and feel better, I can get all three of my kids on my lap at once!”

TIPS FOR TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATING SYMPTOMS OF VEIN DISEASE

1. Try to avoid standing or setting for long periods of time. If that isn’t possible, try to elevate your legs whenever possible.

2. Do circulation exercises such as standing on your toes or moving your legs back and forth.

3. Wear support hose.

4. Avoid strenuous exercises that cause abdominal pressure. Exercise such as weight lifting and sit-ups result in the backward flow of blood through the veins, which in time exacerbates vein disease.

5. Incorporate walking or low-impact aerobics in to your routine. These are good exercise option that provides temporary relief of the symptoms of varicose veins.