Varicose Veins
Do You Have Varicose Veins?
In addition to a visually unattractive mass of purple or blue bursts of veins, rope-like appearance or knotty feeling, many patients may experience one or more of the following symptoms in their legs:
- Pain or cramping feeling
- Heaviness or Tiredness
- Burning or Tingling Sensations
- Itching Sensation
- Swelling or Throbbing
- Tender Areas Around the Veins
If you experience symptoms and are delaying treatment, your symptoms may progress to more serious complications including:
- Phylebitis (Inflammation)
- Thrombosis
- Blood clots (e.g., DVT)
- Ankle sores or skin ulcers
What is a Varicose Vein?
In looking at the entire circulatory system, arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Once the various body parts use the oxygen in the blood, the veins return the oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart. This process is known as the venous pump. If the veins are malfunctioning – a condition known as venous insufficiency – the entire system fails to work properly and other problems can develop which include varicose veins, leg swelling and pain.
Understanding the Venous System
There are three kinds of veins in your legs. superficial veins, deep veins, and perforating veins. Closet to the skin are the perforating veins which connect to the superficial veins – they then connect to the deep veins found at the level of the bones and muscles. All veins must work very hard to pump the blood back to the heart against the downward force of gravity. To keep the blood moving in the right direction and from flowing backwards, veins contain valves which open to let the blood pass through and then close again. When these one way valves are not working properly, the walls of the vein become weak as blood pools inside them causing them to bulge out. Because of the superficial nature of the vein, the bulging, twisting, rope-like result can be seen through the surface of the skin.
Don’t I Need These Veins?
One of the most common questions asked by our patients at Circulatory Centers is don’t I need these veins even though they’re damaged? The answer is NO, you don’t need them. You have miles of superficial veins in your leg, and a person with varicose veins is experiencing issues is only a small portion. Your body is already working to redirect the venous blood flow in your legs through the miles of good veins. When we treat your varicose veins, and alleviate the back pressure and incorrect flow your circulation will improve!
Knowing the Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Approximately 40 million people suffer from varicose veins and most are women. Although many people consider it to be a cosmetic condition, the fact is that varicose veins are an indication of a larger vascular problem which should not be ignored. The presence of varicose veins is proof that a once healthy vein is not functioning properly or working efficiently. Phlebitis (inflammation of veins), thrombosis (blood clots within the veins), and skin ulcers may occur when large veins go untreated.
Varicose veins are superficial veins which have become dilated (widened and filled with blood) and in which the valves no longer work properly. Most often people associate varicose veins as the abnormally large ‘ropy’ veins seen close to the surface of the legs. This is true, but in some cases some people with venous disease have few to no visible veins. Yes, you can still have vascular issues that are not visibly present. That’s why paying close attention to other symptoms your legs are experiencing is key.
Symptoms like tired, achy, itchy legs are all signs that the circulation returning the blood to the heart may not be flowing properly. While vein conditions are not preventable, they are TREATABLE!
Leading Factors Causing Varicose Veins
Heredity:
Probably the most common factor is Heredity. You may be genetically pre-disposed to varicose veins. If your parents and/or grandparents had vascular issues, you are at greater risk.
Gender:
Females are at higher risk for vascular issues or venous disease due to hormonal conditions the effect the vein walls. Also due to many medical conditions more likely related to female health. The use of hormone replacement and birth control can effect your circulation.
Pregnancy:
Blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy causing greater stress to the vein walls. Hormone levels are also elevated during pregnancy, again effecting your circulation and contributing to vein enlargement.
Age:
As we age our bodies lose elasticity in the vein walls causing valves to malfunction. Our veins lose strength and are working harder to pump blood through the circulatory system.
Prolonged Standing:
Gravity is a veins enemy! Occupations and lifestyle that involve standing for long periods of time can cause an increase in blood pressure and volume in the lower limbs.
The most common occupations of our patients are:
- Teachers
- Medical Professionals such as nurses
- Restaurant and Retail professionals such as bartenders and cashiers
- Hair Stylists
Standing on your feet all day equals troubled veins!
Obesity:
Increased weight causes abnormal stress levels on your circulation and body in general. If you body is working harder to circulate blood your veins are at risk of vascular issues. Along with weight gain, other issues such as Diabetes which even further increase the risk of varicose veins due to poor circulation.
Physical Trauma:
Injuries to the lower limbs can damage underlying blood vessels and add to vein issues.
Proper Diagnosis is Key!
At Circulatory Centers we perform an extensive history and physical exam along with a real time venous ultrasound of the legs for all of our patients prior to treatment. This painless procedure identifies problem veins and gives our medical staff a detailed road map of their veins, which is extremely important in formulating an individual treatment plan exclusively tailored for each patient. Depending on the locations and size of the problem veins, most patients at this point will require a series of injections (compression sclerotherapy) to eradicate their varicose veins.
Because the development of varicose veins is usually progressive early diagnosis and treatment is important. While there is no way to reverse these symptoms and turn a varicose vein back into a healthy vein, there is a treatment to redirect the blood flow, thereby relieving the problems associated with varicose veins.
If your legs feel heavy or tired, if your feet or ankles are swollen or numb, or if you have a bulging unattractive surface vein, don’t delay. Call Circulatory Centers at 1-800-526-3082 to schedule your free vein consultation today! You’ll be on your way to more beautiful legs and a healthier, happier you in no time!