Varicose veins- the purple or dark blue veins bulging on your legs can significantly hurt your self-esteem. If you have them, you may dread wearing any clothes that expose your legs. Varicose veins refer to the swollen and twisted veins that appear underneath the skin. They can occur in any part of the body, but they usually develop in the legs where they become highly visible.
To some people, varicose veins are only a cosmetic concern. In others, they may cause severe pain and discomfort. Some types of varicose veins may cause bleeding leg sores. Treating bulging veins can help to relieve discomfort and address the cosmetic concerns of a patient.
A few years ago, surgery was considered the best treatment for varicose veins. The surgical procedure involves “vein stripping”- removing the affected veins that cause varicose veins. In modern times, surgery has been replaced by less invasive procedures such as laser ablations, injections, and the use of radiofrequency energy. Vein clinics across the country, including Metro Vein Centers, are making these treatments available to more citizens.
How leg veins work
The vascular system comprises of various types of blood vessels. Some blood vessels such as arteries have smooth muscles that contract and relax to aid in the movement of blood throughout the body. Other blood vessels, such as the veins, do not have smooth muscles. Veins rely on the contraction of muscles in the arms and the legs to push deoxygenated blood from the legs back to the heart against gravity.
Veins have valves that keep blood flowing in one direction. Sometimes, the valves may malfunction, causing blood to accumulate inside the vessels. The accumulation of blood causes veins to become large and less elastic.
Who is at risk of developing varicose veins?
Anyone can develop varicose veins, but the condition is more common to older adults than in young people. Also, women are at a higher risk of getting varicose veins than men. At least 40 percent of women above the age of 50 and 75 percent of women over 70 years have varicose veins. Other factors that may predispose an individual to varicose veins include heredity, weight, and occupation.
Managing varicose veins
You may not need treatment if your varicose veins are asymptomatic. In case you experience pain, heaviness, itching, swelling, and any other discomfort, the following tips may help to relieve these symptoms:
- Elevating your legs several times a day
- Avoiding prolonged standing or sitting
- Engaging in regular exercises such as walking
- Wearing compression stockings
Treating varicose veins
If the self-care approach doesn’t help in relieving varicose veins symptoms, you may consider looking for a vein clinic that utilizes minimum invasive methods to treat varicose veins. At Metro Vein Centers, minimally invasive procedures are performed by a highly trained and experienced vein doc.
Dr. Ken Hollis, a certified general surgeon at Metro Vein Centers, points out that it’s essential to check the credentials of the vein doc doing the procedure to ensure they have the right training. Some of the minimally invasive treatment options you can get at Metro Vein centers include:
Sclerotherapy- It is a minimally invasive procedure where a vein doc injects a chemical irritant to seal the affected vein. This procedure is mostly used to treat spider veins, small varicose veins, and reticular veins.
Endovenous techniques- Refers to a minimally invasive procedure used to treat deep sitting varicose veins. A small catheter is used to locate the affected vein.
About Metro Vein Centers
Metro Vein Centers is among the few vein clinics offering the most advanced invasive treatment options for varicose veins. They have offices in Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and New Jersey.
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