(866) 552-4866 Last year, Jeff* did what many people do when they enter their 50s: he celebrated. After all, 50 is an important milestone—one that comes with a sense of perspective and accomplishment for having experience in life's hurdles. But after he threw a party, spent time with friends, and treated himself to a piece of chocolate cake, Jeff realized 50 also marks a shift in how he needs to think about his health. So, he scheduled his annual physical and began researching additional ways to stay ahead of potential health issues before they became problems. That included looking into one area many people overlook: vascular screenings. While scheduling a simple vein screening may not be the first thing you think about on your birthday, it is a smart step toward healthy aging—for 50 and beyond.
Vein disease affects more than 20 million Americans. It often starts with minor, easy-to-dismiss symptoms such as varicose veins or leg discomfort before progressing to more serious circulation problems. Scheduling your vascular screening now means you can head off all of that at the pass—giving you and your doctor a clear picture of what problems might exist and how to resolve them.
At StrideCare, we believe that aging well starts with prevention in your 50s. This can be great news for anyone displaying early signs of vein disease.
Do Any of These Symptoms Sound Familiar?
- Feelings of leg achiness
- Visible spider veins or varicose veins
- Heaviness or fullness in your legs
- Burning, throbbing, itching, and swelling in your legs
- Leg skin discoloration and possible bruising
- Restless legs and muscle cramps
- Cold or numb legs
- Discomfort in your legs when walking or standing
Leg pain symptoms you are facing could be vascular-related. Request a vascular screening with a StrideCare vascular specialist today. Our team ensures you receive the support you need from a qualified doctor close to home.
Why Is 50 Viewed as a Magic Health Number?
Regardless of their specialty, most healthcare providers will say that 50 represents a key turning point. It is an age when overall health becomes less about reacting to problems and more about preventing them—paying closer attention to subtle changes, managing risk factors, and staying ahead of conditions that tend to develop quietly over time. And while your mind might immediately jump to screenings for things like colon cancer, heart health, cholesterol levels, or blood pressure, your circulatory system deserves a look as well.
In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine published a massive research analysis of over two million people across 39 countries which revealed that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors at age 50 is strongly linked to higher lifetime risks of circulatory and vascular diseases, demonstrating how mid-life risk burden primes later vascular disease.
When we are young, our veins and arteries do exactly what they should do: move oxygen-rich blood throughout our bodies. We often compare them to an intricate highway system that delivers essential nutrients and oxygen where they're needed most. But over time, wear and tear, plaque buildup, and weakened vein walls can limit and even stop blood flow.
Vascular disease can strike any part of the body and is often symptom-free until later stages, when it is difficult or too late to treat. So, you may initially see it as unsightly spider veins or varicose veins. But if left untreated, blood begins to pool and flow in the wrong direction, and you or a loved one begins experiencing more life-altering symptoms.
This is where vascular screenings can help.
Generally, it is a good idea for anyone aged 50 and older to undergo a vascular screening. We also recommend screenings more frequently for patients over 40 with elevated risk factors, including a family or personal history of:
- Diabetes
- Vascular disease, heart disease, or stroke
- Circulatory conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Being a smoker
- Obesity
How Vascular Screenings Work
Since research indicates plaque build-up begins in childhood, everyone is at risk for developing vascular disease. Vascular screenings are an invaluable early detection tool and provide a clear view of what's going on in your blood vessels. These tests are noninvasive. In other words, there is no surgery or recovery time involved—they're painless, quick, and can be done in your local vascular clinic. They use ultrasound technology to evaluate key factors such as blood flow, plaque buildup, and potential narrowing or blockages in arteries and veins.
Vascular screenings can also assess circulation issues before symptoms like leg pain, leg swelling, or visible vein changes appear.
There are generally two primary vascular screenings we offer at StrideCare:
Venous Doppler Ultrasound
This test uses ultrasound technology to get a full view of the circulatory system and its structures beneath the skin. Patients can lie back during their Doppler ultrasound and relax. We will apply a small amount of gel to the skin where the ultrasound will be conducted. The specialist will then guide the ultrasound probe over the skin to the desired area to visualize the venous and arterial structures.
The entire ultrasound process typically takes 45-60 minutes. Upon completion, the patient will be able to return to normal daily activities. Based on your individual exam results, one of our vascular specialists can determine whether treatment is necessary and what it might entail.
Venography
This procedure is also painless and allows our board-certified vascular specialists to see the veins in your body and your circulatory system on an X-ray. To do so, we inject an iodine-based solution into the veins to allow them to be seen without requiring an ultrasound.
The venogram diagnostic testing process typically takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area to be X-rayed. A single venogram can detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other potentially dangerous vein conditions.
You do not have to leg pain control your life. Schedule a consultation with a StrideCare vascular specialist about the benefits of vascular screenings sooner rather than later. Our collaborative approach ensures that you receive the care you need.
Featured in this video is StrideCare's expert Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Danny Chan, M.D., discussing a diagnostic venogram.
If your vascular screenings indicate a vascular disease, we work with you to develop a customized, innovative treatment plan based on your diagnosis and condition severity. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, such as adopting a heart-healthy diet and increasing physical activity, as well as prescription medications, non-surgical procedures such as vein ablation, sclerotherapy, or surgical interventions.
Do I Need a Vascular Screening?
It would not hurt to consider a vein screening—especially if you are 50 or older. Maybe there is nothing wrong, or what you are experiencing isn't anything serious. But there are myriad reasons why it might actually be something to worry about. Choosing to have vascular screenings sooner rather than later can provide the answers you seek and help you avoid more significant problems in the future.
Important Vascular Screenings at StrideCare
Vascular disease can develop into a serious condition. But when detected early, treatments can be highly effective. A painless vascular screening could help prevent serious conditions like stroke, PAD, vein thrombosis, and aneurysms. If you are ready to schedule your life-saving vascular screening, call the specialists at StrideCare or request an appointment online now.
StrideCare's mission is to surround ourselves with the best in this field so that our patients are never short of options for reclaiming their lives. Our doctors stay on the cutting edge of medicine, helping patients avoid traditionally long, invasive surgeries used in the past to treat vascular disease. They diagnose and treat using innovative, minimally invasive procedures with little to no pain, short recovery times and high success rates. The experts at StrideCare will recommend a personalized plan to help you achieve the best results.
StrideCare continues to be a leader in performing the latest technologies and treatments to help our patients reclaim their lives—all the while providing compassionate patient care. Please contact us at 866-552-4866 or complete the appointment form to schedule a consultation.
StrideCare Vascular serves South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia communities: Charleston, Orangeburg, Mount Pleasant, Murrells Inlet, Summerville, Walterboro, West Ashley, Addison, Allen, Anna, Arlington, Austin, Carrollton, Celina, Clear Lake, Craig Ranch, Dallas, Euless, Flower Mound, Forney, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Houston, Irving, Katy, Kaufman, Mansfield, McKinney, Mesquite, including Midland, North Dallas, Odessa, Paris, Pecos, Plano, Prosper, Rockwall, Round Rock, Rowlett, Royce City, San Antonio, Sherman, South Dallas, Southlake, Stone Oak, Sugar Land, Sulphur Springs, The Woodlands, Waxahachie, Webster, Petersburg, Tappahannock, Richmond, Colonial Heights, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, Henrico, and more.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before starting any new treatment or questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.