I'm so bad at that, though. My thank-you notes always end up reading "Thank you for XYZ, it is very appreciated".

I too write the worst thank you notes, but I don't write them for an organization so I guess that's ok ;)

Actually, the Cleveland Clinic disagrees with your statement that crossing your legs does not cause varicose veins.

Actually, if you read their statement they agree with me exactly!

"Varicose veins occur when healthy vein walls become weak and swell, causing blood to back up and pool inside the vein. Varicose veins are also related to increased pressure in the leg veins or defective valves in the veins.

The exact cause of varicose veins is unknown, but there are a number of factors that contribute to the development of varicose and spider veins, including:

• Heredity
• Advancing age
• Prolonged standing (especially for people who work in occupations such as nurses, beauticians, teachers, factory workers and others)
• Being overweight
• Hormonal influences during pregnancy
• The use of birth control pills
• Post-menopausal hormonal replacement therapy
• Prolonged sitting with legs crossed
• Wearing tight undergarments or clothes
• A history of blood clots
• Injury to the veins
• Conditions that cause increased pressure in the abdomen including liver disease, fluid in the abdomen, previous groin surgery, or heart failure

Other reported factors include topical steroids, trauma or injury to the skin, previous venous surgery and exposure to ultra-violet rays. "


You'll notice that this list is very long with many very common conditions. As you may not know, most people with these conditions do not have varicose veins, including women who cross their legs. These things will worsen the problem in people who do have the disease, so if you have varicose veins try to avoid them.

Just thought you might want to know how to interpret medical information.

Actually, if you continue reading, you will notice it says:

How can I prevent varicose and spider veins?

* Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments and clothing that constricts the waist, groin or legs
* Avoid crossing your legs while seated
* Avoid sitting or standing in one position for a long time
* Exercise regularly to increase circulation
* Lose weight if you are overweight
* Sit or lay down and elevate your legs at least twice a day for 30 minutes at a time


Just thought you might want to learn how to finish what you started. :)

someone seems to have turned up the heat...:eek:

You just reiterated what I said at the end of my post. If you have varicose veins avoid the things that make them worse. That doesn't mean that those things cause the disease. I've actually been educated extensively in varicose veins in venues other than the internet with dumbed down sites for patients. Cause and effect is not the same as association.
The advice you posted is for patients with varicose veins not everybody. Do you really think the Cleveland Clinic thinks everybody should lie down with their feet elevated for thirty minutes a day? NO!

Prevention means NOT getting something to begin with. What GP quoted said that to PREVENT getting varicose veins, you should not sit with your legs crossed. And, yes, I think the Cleveland Clinic thinks everyone should elevate their feet 30 min a day, exercise for an hour a day, eat 4 fruits, 5 veggies and 3 servings of meat, not smoke, etc etc.

I'm quite aware what prevention means. The argument remains that varicose veins are weak veins with bad valves. Crossing your legs does not make veins have bad valves. Crossing your legs makes people with bad venous valves build up pressure in the veins making them balloon, i.e. make them worse. You can't treat them by not crossing you legs, but if you have varicose veins you can not make them worse. Internet sites for medical information are written not to be the authority on any subject but only to make a difficult topic understandable for patients. As a physician, I would understand this. I'm not trying to get on anyone's case, just trying to dispell misinformation.

exercise? not smoke? I thought cigarettes had plenty of vitamins and were part of a balanced diet...:(

Don't get me started on smoking! But, then again, non-smokers indulge in other ways!

You really are a jackass. For both comments.

I could give two shits about "proper manners", I'm ok as long as I am being polite and respectful. BUT I have heard that you're supposed to cross at your ankles to PREVENT showing your panties.

That's what I've heard. My elementary school actually had a rule that for graduations or any other functions which required girls to be sitting in front of an audience, we had to have our legs crossed at the ankles.

Wow, if you woulda said this thread, or a thread on GC would become a varicose veins thread I would never have believed you... :D

Stick around. You never know when a topic on GC's going to take a u-turn, cross over the center line, go the wrong way down a one way street and end in a trainwreck.