Varicose veins, also known as spider veins, reticular veins or telangiectasia, are swollen, twisted and enlarged veins caused by weakness in the vein’s wall. The external skin surface is usually a normal red color. They can occur anywhere in the body but most commonly occur in the legs and groin. About 40% of the population in the USA may develop varicose veins New York at some stage during their lifetime.
Here are the causes and symptoms of varicose veins and how they can be treated.
What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are a common condition that can develop in the legs of adults who are overweight or pregnant. They are caused by increased pressure on the veins in the legs, which causes them to swell and stretch. If you have varicose veins, you likely know it. They often cause aching and throbbing sensations and blood-red or blue streaking in the skin around the veins. A doctor can confirm that you have varicose veins by doing a physical exam of your legs. Varicose veins often appear on their own, but they can also be a symptom of other conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Common symptoms of varicose veins include;
- Swelling in the legs or ankles
- Aching, itching, cramping or tingling in the legs
- Burning in your legs when you stand or walk
- Skin changes and so on.
Varicose veins usually do not pose any serious health problems. However, they can get worse over time if they are not treated. This is why it is important to identify and treat them early on.
What are the treatment options for varicose veins?
Lifestyle changes
The most common treatment for varicose veins is lifestyle changes. If you can avoid putting too much pressure on your legs and getting them fatigued, you can prevent blood from pooling in your legs. This causes it to collect into big, bulging veins. Also, if you are overweight and have a family history of varicose veins or other circulation problems, exercise regularly. Also, maintain a healthy diet not just for your looks but also because certain foods have been shown to help improve circulation, such as potassium-rich fruits like bananas. Furthermore, consider wearing support stockings and performing exercises to improve your legs’ circulation.
Endovenous thermal ablation
A simple procedure called endovenous thermal ablation is often used to treat varicose veins effectively. During this procedure, a small metal coil is inserted into each leg through a very fine needle that has been carefully guided through the skin using X-ray imaging.
As many as four coils are inserted per leg, at which point they expand and heat up to seal off the valves of the vein. In some cases, patients will experience mild discomfort during the procedure. However, it is typically only felt as a dull pressure sensation around each inserted coil.
Although varicose veins can be treated with surgery, it should be noted that there are other options available for those who are not interested in having surgery or are not yet candidates for it.
If these methods fail to help or if the condition gets severe enough, surgery may be needed to remove the varicose veins.
To eliminate varicose veins, first get rid of the symptoms and then the underlying cause of the condition. You should use compression stockings to reduce swelling. Your health care provider may do laser treatment of the blood vessels or other treatments, including massage, exercise and band Lifting. In rare cases, surgery is needed, usually for serious vein disease. Contact Upper East Side Cardiology experts to get started with your treatment if you have varicose veins.
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