Varicose Veins

Varicose veins might seem relatively innocuous, but these veins have a darker side… often a dark blue or purple side. These varicose veins are superficial veins mostly found in your legs and serious complications from varicose veins are rare. However, for the men and women who suffer from varicose leg veins, it’s a serious matter. These veins are large and twisted, often raised from the skin, and as mentioned above, an extremely noticeable hue. While, varicose veins do not present any physiological harm most of the time, the psychological harm of unsightly varicose veins can be devastating.

Cause of Varicose Veins

Weakened vessels that become swollen or enlarged with blood can cause varicose veins to develop. When the vein walls or valves become destabilized, the valve loses the ability to push blood back to the heart. This causes blood to pool and varicose veins to enlarge and become noticeable. While the exact cause of varicose veins is somewhat a mystery, they are often linked with heredity, obesity, hormonal changes, and pregnancy.

Varicose veins often first appear after pregnancy or during menstruation, and varicose vein symptoms can be more troublesome at these times. Even though men and women both can experience varicose veins, women seem to be much more susceptible. Studies have shown that 1 in 5 women will develop some form of varicose veins in their lifetime, either after pregnancy or simply as they get older. Varicose veins during pregnancy are so prevalent because there is an increase in your blood volume, but a decrease in the flow of blood from your legs. While this change is ideal for supporting your growing baby’s development, it causes the leg veins to enlarge and the formation of varicose veins during pregnancy.

Varicose veins can also be a sign of more series medical conditions such as:

• Thrombosis—A condition where blood clots or thrombus form in an enlarged vessel, impeding the flow of blood in your circulatory system. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein and is much more serious because of the potential for the clot to travel toward the heart and lung.
• Phlebitis—An inflammation of the vein possibly caused by bacteria, prescription medications, or genetics.
• Venous Stasis Ulcers—An ulcer that is formed in the enlarged varicose vein. Varicose vein ulcers can lead to possible (but rare) amputation.

Varicose Veins Symptoms

Symptoms associated with varicose veins are often mild and include achy or heavy legs, ankle swelling, throbbing, muscle cramps, itching, and brownish-blue discoloration around the varicose vein. Rare, but often more serious varicose vein symptoms include what has become known as “Restless Leg Syndrome”, skin ulcers near your ankle, and bleeding from a ruptured vein. Not everyone experiences varicose veins the same way. In fact, some people encounter no varicose vein symptoms at all. For most of us, these veins are merely a cosmetic dilemma.

Varicose Vein Treatments

There are several treatments available for varicose veins and the right treatment for you is often determined by the size, shape, and location of your veins. The differing costs of these varicose vein treatments can also play a deciding factor. Varicose vein treatment options include Sclerotherapy, Laser Vein Removal (IPL), Endovenous Laser Treatment, and Varicose Vein Surgery.

Sclerotherapy—An injection in the varicose vein that causes the weakened vessel to collapse. Healthier blood vessels absorb and redirect the blood flow of the closed varicose vein. Sclerotherapy works best on smaller to medium size varicose veins.

Laser Vein Removal—This method utilizes intense pulses of light or high-intensity laser beams to destroy varicose veins. Laser Vein Removal is much more successful with smaller veins like spider veins. Although, laser treatments have shown some improvement in smaller varicose veins.

Varicose Vein Surgery—Surgeries like vein ligation, vein stripping, and ambulatory phlebectomy have been used for years to treat varicose veins. All varicose vein surgeries involve making small incisions and physically removing the unwanted veins from your body. Varicose vein surgeries have become less popular in recent years because of the risk factors involved and the improvement of methods like Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Laser Treatment.

Endovenous Laser Treatment—This varicose vein laser treatment has become the best option to remove large varicose veins from the upper leg and thigh. It offers the same results as varicose vein surgeries, but with a fraction of the risk and downtime. Endovenous Laser Treatments insert a fiber optic into the vein, and as the fiber is removed from the vein, the laser’s heat seals off the varicose vein. Blood is then redirected by healthy blood vessels.