Living
with Varicose Veins
By Yunus Moosa, M. D., F.A.C.C.
Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged blue or purplish veins usually seen in the thigh and leg. In the majority of cases, these large superficial veins are a cosmetic nuisance.
Varicose veins connect with the deep veins of the leg and play a minor role in the transfer of blood to the heart. Conditions that can cause destruction of the veins are pregnancy, obesity, prolonged standing and trauma. The veins become more prominent in the third and fourth decade of life and are more common in females. They have been linked to the sex hormone estrogen.
In the majority of cases, varicose veins worsen with time. The varicose veins start to become more prominent and swell. With time, the veins are engorged with blood and can cause localized pain and itching. Once the veins become prominent, it is very unlikely that they will spontaneously resolve without treatment.
What are symptoms of varicose veins?
Aside from being unattractive,
varicose veins may be responsible for leg aches, a feeling of heaviness or
fatigue in the legs. The majority of individuals complain of leg ache at the
end of the day. Symptoms are often worse after prolonged standing and may
include feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching,
cramping, and restlessness of the legs.
Varicose
veins do not cause joint pains or a decrease in blood supply to the legs.
Risk Factors that increase your
chance of developing Varicose Veins include:
- Standing for long periods of time - Blood doesn't flow as well if you're in the same position for long periods of time because your muscles are not contracting to push the blood back to the heart.
- Obesity - Extra weight puts more pressure on your veins.
- Age - The normal process of aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins which regulate blood flow. The wear and tear may cause the valves to malfunction.
- Sex - Women have a higher chance than men for developing varicose veins and spider veins. This is attributed to hormonal changes during pregnancy, and also pre-menstruation or menopause may be factors. Some researchers have found that female hormones may relax vein walls. Moreover, the use of hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills may increase the risk of varicose veins.
- Genetics - Check to see if family members have varicose veins. Heredity plays a big role.
What is treatment for varicose veins?
Depending on your situation, the first approach before offering varicose vein treatments is the use of compression stockings. These may help relieve some of the symptoms and move blood more efficiently through the legs. Although wearing hose won’t eliminate varicose veins, they can help alleviate symptoms caused by the veins, such as aching, heaviness, and swelling. They also help prevent worsening of the veins.
Because varicose veins are not considered life threatening, treating them is not absolutely required. However, painful side effects and negative aesthetics often motivate patients to seek treatment. There are many options in the treatment of varicose veins, but the most common procedure used is endovenous laser ablation.
Endovenous laser ablation is a minimally invasive procedure performed in a physician’s office or clinic. A laser fiber is inserted through the skin and directly into the vein that is bulgy, unattractive and sometimes painful. The laser heats the lining within the vein, damaging it and causing it to collapse, shrink, and eventually disappear. This technique typically is used to treat the large varicose veins in the legs. It takes less than 30 minutes to perform.
If you are at risk for varicose or spider veins, consult with your doctor and then choose the treatment that is best for you.