UAMS Offers Free Varicose Vein Screenings on April 18

By Jon Parham

Only a limited number of screenings can be done in a day, so appointments are required. Free parking is available in the Parking 3 parking deck at the intersection of West Capitol Avenue and Jack Stephens Drive. For more information or to make an appointment, call 501-686-6176.

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 new 540,000-square-foot hospital, six centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has 2,652 students and 733 medical residents. Its centers of excellence include the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute and the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including nearly 1,150 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. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com.