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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

I never thought of myself as an addict, but I did end up addicted to anti-anxiety medication after developing Generalized Anxiety Disorder. At some point, the medicine stopped being a way to deal with the nervousness and panic attacks, and became something my body craved. I knew that I needed help fast. Fortunately, a local drug rehab program includes support for people like me. They helped me wean off the medication, use methods like massage therapy to help my nerves heal, and even provided ongoing counseling for our family. I don't know how I would have made it without their help. If you suspect that your medication has crossed the line from being helpful to hurtful, take heart. Let me tell you about my journey out of addiction and back to wholeness.

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Recovering from Addiction to Prescription Medications

Why Do You Have Spider Veins On Your Hands and What Can You Do About Them?

by Valerie Stevens

Spider veins, which are visible, blue or purple veins just under the surface of the skin, most often appear on the legs. However, they can appear on the hands and wrists, too. If you are developing spider veins on your hands, it is important to know what causes these veins to appear and what you can do to prevent them from becoming worse.

What causes spider veins on hands?

Some people are genetically pre-disposed to spider veins. If your parents have them on their hands, you're at an increased risk of developing them, too. Often, it is impossible to nail down a single cause of any one case of spider veins. However, it is thought that hormonal changes contribute to their development. Many women develop them during pregnancy or menopause. Taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause might help prevent them.

In some cases, spider veins appear when a person gains or loses weight rapidly. They are thought to be brought on by the hormonal changes associated with such weight fluctuation.

Are spider veins dangerous?

No. They are merely a cosmetic concern. If you are not worried about the way spider veins on your hands look, then there is no reason to treat them. However, you should tell your doctor if you're experiencing any soreness or pain in your hands. This could indicate that what you're seeing are not truly spider veins, but blood clots or bruising beneath the skin that could indicate a more serious condition like a bleeding disorder or blood infection.

How are spider veins treated?

If the spider veins on your hands are bugging you, talk to your doctor about your treatment options. If the veins are minor and you just want to prevent them from becoming worse, wearing compression gloves at night might do the trick. These are gloves that fit snugly on your hands to keep blood from pooling in your veins.

Sclerotherapy is a common procedure used to get rid of unsightly spider veins on the hands and on other parts of the body. It involves injecting a simple saline solution into the vein until it bursts. The only common side effect is some soreness and bruising in the days that follow. Laser treatment, which causes tiny blood clots to form and block the vein until the body reabsorbs it, is another option.

If you have spider veins on your hands, keep in mind that they are merely a cosmetic issue. If they do not bother you visually, then there's no reason to ever think or worry about them again.

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