UAMS Hosts Free Varicose Vein Screenings on Aug. 31

By todd

LITTLE ROCK – Free screenings for varicose veins, a common condition usually affecting veins in the leg, will be held by appointment from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 31 in the Outpatient Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).


 


Appointments can be made by calling (501) 686-6176. Parking is available for a small fee in the Outpatient Parking Deck at the intersection of West Capitol Avenue and Jack Stephens Drive.


 


About 55 percent of American women and 45 percent of men suffer from some form of vein problem, such as varicose veins. Varicose veins are swollen, irregular shaped veins that often develop in the legs. They are caused by a weakening of the vein wall, which begins to swell.


 


Age, gender, obesity and a job that requires a lot of standing can increase the risk of developing varicose veins. Common symptoms include leg swelling, pain, leg heaviness, numbness or an itching rash.


 


Treatments for varicose veins range from support stockings to surgical options.


 


UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, six centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,435 students and 715 medical residents. It is one of the state’s largest public employers with about 9,400 employees, including nearly 1,000 physicians who provide medical care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS’ Area Health Education Centers throughout the state. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $5 billion a year. For more information, visit www.uams.edu.


 


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