Varicose Veins
Q: What causes varicose veins, and how can I get rid of them?
Affinity's medical expert is Dr. Deidre Flanagan, a general surgeon for Affinity Health System.
A: Varicose veins happen when blood pools in the vein causing it to twist and swell. It’s often the result of faulty valves that no longer push blood up towards the heart. Varicose veins are more common in women because of genetic predisposition and pregnancy. People who stand for long periods of time or have a lot a pressure on their abdomen, like with pregnancy, may be more susceptible to varicose veins.
Leg pain, visibly enlarged veins, brownish color around the ankles and skin ulcers by the ankles are symptoms of varicose veins. Symptoms may worsen after sitting or standing for long periods of time. In some cases, varicose veins can signal a blockage in a deeper vein, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If left untreated, DVT can cause a pulmonary embolism.
Luckily, varicose veins have many treatment options. Avoiding excessive standing, wearing supportive stockings, exercise and sleeping with elevated legs are the most common treatments.
For more severe cases, varicose vein therapy is another option. Varicose vein therapy re-routes the pooled blood to other veins.
Endovenous ablation therapy is a minimally invasive form of treatment that is performed in the doctor’s office under local anesthetic. Endovenous ablation therapy uses laser or radiofrequency power to close the vein. Sclerotherapy uses chemicals injected into smaller veins to scar the veins closed. This is also done in the office setting. Occasionally, there will still be a role for surgical stripping or removal of the veins in the operating room with an anesthetic. All therapies are outpatient procedures, where patients return home the same day and can apply to both symptomatic and cosmetic veins.
Talk with your doctor about which therapy would work for you. As with all surgeries, there is a risk of complications such as clotting, scarring or skin discoloration. It is important to understand that no treatment for varicose veins is permanent, and most people will require “touch-up” procedures over time.
