Varicose veins usually affect your legs due to venous insufficiency. This leads to painful symptoms, compromising your routine life.
Covington varicose veins specialist offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services to improve your overall vascular health.
Varicose veins and their etiology
Varicose veins or varicosities are a common medical condition often seen developing in women. This is characterized by bluish-green, or purple, bulged, twisted veins in your lower legs that give a rope-like appearance.
Varicose veins are most often caused due to venous insufficiency. Your veins consist of a one-way valve that aids in the normal flow of oxygen-depleted blood from the extremities back to the heart. When your veins are damaged or diseased, this valve system is disrupted. As a result, there is pooling of deoxygenated blood within the veins increasing the pressure within them. The vein walls stretch and enlarge which appear below your skin surface.
Other contributing factors include:
- Aging
- Family history
- Prolonged standing or sitting
- History of blood clots
- Obesity
- Inactive lifestyle
- Pregnancy
- Tobacco use
Manifestations and signs of varicose veins
You will notice the following signs and symptoms if you suffer from varicose veins:
- Ropey, bulging, twisted veins give a spider web appearance
- Heaviness and pain in your lower legs
- Burning sensation and itchiness
- Frequent muscle cramps
- Changes in the skin color
Managing varicose veins
Some may desire treatment for cosmetic reasons since the bulging veins are unappealing. While others may need treatment due to painful symptoms.
Your vein specialist will evaluate your symptoms and review your personal and family medical history. This is followed by a physical examination to assess your veins and the related signs to determine the type of treatment required.
Sclerotherapy
- The most popular treatment for spider veins (tiny damaged veins that appear just beneath the skin surface, and are milder forms of varicose veins) is sclerotherapy.
- Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive, and outpatient procedure.
- Your doctor will inject special chemical solutions directly into the diseased vein.
- This seals the affected vein, and the blood reroutes to healthier veins nearby.
- Over a period of time, the affected vein collapses and is absorbed naturally into your body.
You will be advised to use compression stockings after sclerotherapy. This compresses your legs to facilitate efficient blood flow back to your heart to prevent varicose veins recurrence.
Summary
Damaged or diseased veins in your legs often lead to varicose veins due to venous insufficiency. If left untreated, the varicosity may lead to painful, slow-healing ulcers, and other complications. Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment to improve your vascular health, thereby enhancing your overall well-being.
