VARICOSE VEINS AND SPIDER VEINS

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Varicose veins and spider veins are swollen, twisted blood vessels that can appear on your legs or sometimes elsewhere in the body. Here’s a breakdown to help you tell them apart:

• Varicose Veins: These are large, raised, and often blue or purple. They can cause aching, cramping, or a heavy feeling in the legs.
• Spider Veins: Smaller and red, purple, or blue, they resemble spiderwebs or tree branches. While not typically painful, they might be a cosmetic concern.

What triggers these veins?

Several factors can increase your risk of varicose and spider veins, including:

• Family History: Runs in the family? You might be more prone.
• Standing Still: Occupations requiring a lot of standing, like nursing or teaching, can contribute.
• Weight: Carrying extra weight can put more pressure on your veins.
• Hormonal Shifts: Pregnancy, puberty, and menopause can play a role.
• Birth Control and Hormone Therapy: Using birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy after menopause may be a risk factor.
• Blood Clot History: A history of blood clots can increase the chance.
• Increased Abdominal Pressure: Conditions like tumors, constipation, or tight clothing can contribute.
• Other Potential Causes: Injuries, previous vein surgery, and sun exposure are also mentioned as possible factors.

Who gets them more often?

Women are more likely to develop these veins than men, and the risk increases with age. An estimated 30% to 60% of adults may have varicose or spider veins.

Signs and Symptoms:

Many people with varicose veins experience achy or crampy legs. Other common symptoms include tiredness, restlessness, burning, throbbing, tingling, or heaviness. Elevating your legs or wearing compression stockings can often ease the pain.

For women, symptoms might worsen during menstrual cycles or pregnancy. Less frequent signs include swelling, ulcers, and darkened skin around the ankles. In rare cases, varicose veins can develop into a painful blood clot with inflamed veins, known as thrombophlebitis.

Dealing with Varicose and Spider Veins: Treatment Options Explained

Varicose and spider veins can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Here’s a breakdown of the different treatments available, all explained in clear language:

1. Support stockings:

These specially designed stockings gently squeeze your legs, helping blood flow better and reducing swelling. They come in various lengths (knee-high, thigh-high, and pantyhose) and are available at medical supply stores or pharmacies.

2. Lifestyle Changes:

Simple changes can make a big difference. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and elevating your legs can all improve circulation and reduce vein problems. Here are some additional tips:

• Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time without taking breaks.
• Ditch high heels for shoes with lower heels to improve calf muscle tone.
• Elevate your legs above your heart while resting or sleeping.
• Don’t cross your legs at the ankles or knees.
• Engage in activities that work your leg muscles, like walking or swimming.

3. Sclerotherapy:

This minimally invasive procedure uses injections to target problem veins. A saline solution or a special detergent is injected directly into the vein, causing it to collapse and fade over time. It’s a simple, outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort.

4. Endovenous Laser Ablation:

This treatment uses a laser fiber inserted into the vein. The laser heats the inside of the vein, causing it to collapse and seal shut. It’s minimally invasive, safe, and performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.

5. Radiofrequency Occlusion:

Similar to laser ablation, this method uses a catheter to deliver radiofrequency energy to the vein wall. The heat causes the vein to collapse and seal shut, usually done in an outpatient setting.

6. Surgery:

Surgery is typically reserved for severe cases. Different surgical techniques exist, including:

• Ligation and Stripping: Tying off affected veins and removing them through small incisions. This is usually an outpatient procedure with a 1-2 week recovery time.
• Endoscopic Vein Surgery: Uses a tiny camera to navigate a thin tube inside the vein for closure.
• Ambulatory phlebectomy: removes large surface veins through small incisions (no stitches are needed). Most patients go home the same day.
• Transilluminated Power Phlebectomy: A less invasive version of phlebectomy using light and local anesthesia to remove vein segments in small pieces.

7. Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light:

These treatments use concentrated light energy to damage or destroy unwanted veins. They require no needles but may cause some discomfort. Laser therapy is most effective for small varicose veins and spider veins.

Important Notes:

• Depending on the severity, several treatment sessions may be needed.
• Insurance coverage varies; check with your provider before proceeding.
• While not everyone with varicose or spider veins experiences pain, some people choose treatment for cosmetic reasons.

Sources:

• National Institutes of Health (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470194/)
• Women’s Health Government Website (https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/varicose-veins-and-spider-veins)
• Society of Interventional Radiology (https://www.sirweb.org/patient-center/conditions-and-treatments/venous-disease/)