What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are superficial veins which have become dilated (filled with blood) and can no longer function properly. They have a large “rope-like” appearance and are close to the surface of the legs. Varicose veins are a sign that the circulation in the legs that are returning the blood to the heart may not be flowing properly. While there is no way to actual way to reverse these symptoms and turn a varicose vein back into a healthy vein, there is a treatment to redirect the blood flow: Sclerotherapy.
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!