Varicose Veins And Spider Veins

About half of the population will one day have a vein problem.

The appearance of these veins is usually something that causes the sufferer to feel self-conscious because of their oftentimes twisted and bulging appearance. Some people will have the thinner, blotchy spider veins, but varicose veins can also have noticeable bulging or cause itching or burning.

In some people, varicose veins simply look bothersome. Sometimes, however, varicose veins can be painful. They can cause pain and throbbing and even serious problems like skin sores that won't heal, bleeding and either superficial blood clots or more dangerous ones called deep vein thrombosis. These can be fatal, should a clot travel to the lungs.

Learn more about varicose veins and spider veins, what factors put you at risk for varicose veins developing, and how varicose veins can be treated.

How Do Varicose Veins Develop?

Our veins have one-way valves that keep the blood flowing toward our hearts. If these valves are damaged or weakened, they begin to stop pushing the blood towards the heart and instead the blood pools in your veins, causing swelling. These veins are varicose veins.

"Veins are the roads or the tubes that then transfer blood back to the heart," said Neal Ramchandani, MD, vascular surgeon at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. "I like to think of it as elevators. There's a variety of elevators in the veins, and they're contained in the superficial portion of the leg. So, as you imagine, elevator goes up a floor at a time. Unfortunately, those floors, if they give out, what happens? The elevator drops to the next floor. Similarly, when the valves give way, the blood then drops to the next floor. Unfortunately, that results in pooling or swelling in the leg. So, when these incompetent veins occur, they then bulge with blood, and then result in varicose veins. The varicose veins is merely the backing up of blood from those bad vein, those faulty veins."

Where Do Varicose Veins Appear?

Varicose veins can appear anywhere on your body, but most varicose veins appear in the legs due to the pressure of body weight, the force of gravity and the task of carrying blood from the bottom of the body back to the heart.

Are Varicose Veins And Spider Veins The Same?

The miniature version of varicose veins are known as spider veins, or enlarged capillaries close to the surface of the skin. Spider veins live up to their namesake. They truly look like interconnected spider webs or tree branches on the surface of your skin.

What Are Risk Factors For Varicose Veins?

Unfortunately, varicose veins don’t discriminate. Nearly anyone at any age can develop them. However, there are specific risk factors that can be involved.

• A family member who has had varicose veins
• Working at a desk job or consistently on your feet for long periods of time. This may force your veins in your legs to work harder to pump your blood to your heart, causing damage and ultimately varicose veins.
• Being overweight. That extra weight can increase pressure on your veins, increasing your risk of developing varicose veins or spider veins.
• Getting older. The wear and tear of aging unfortunately increases our risk for varicose veins.
• Being pregnant. Increased blood volume and pressure during pregnancy put stress on veins.
• Being a woman. Hormonal changes for women are believed to have effect on risk factors for varicose veins, which is why women tend to get varicose veins more often than men.
• Previous injury. If you have injured your leg at any point in your life, the veins can weaken their ability to move blood back to your heart, increasing your risk for, you guessed it, varicose veins.

What Are Signs Of Varicose Veins?

While a bulging, enlarged vein is a key sign of varicose veins, signs of varicose veins are not always visible to the eye.

Other signs of varicose veins include:

• Aching pain in your legs
• Swelling
• A sensation of “heaviness”
• Muscle cramping
• Itching legs
• Burning or throbbing legs
• Discoloration or large bluish veins highly visible underneath the skin.

A common complaint is that these symptoms worsen in warmer weather or if you’ve been standing for long periods of time. These symptoms may also be relieved with rest and elevation.

What Are Complications From Varicose Veins?

"We usually deal with swelling, but they can result in venous ulcers and wounds," said Dr. Ramchandani. "Once that happens due to the edema and swelling of the leg, then certainly an intervention will be warranted. It's not necessarily life-threatening, but it can be because of those varicose veins bleed, then certainly it will cause an issue."

Can I Prevent Varicose Veins and Spider Veins?

While you can not fully prevent varicose veins or spider veins, small changes can help.

Lifestyle changes can play a significant role in managing varicose veins and spider veins. Here are some key recommendations to reduce your chances of developing new varicose or spider veins:

Regular Exercise

Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation and vein strength. Focus on exercises that work your legs, such as walking or running.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Being overweight can put additional pressure on your veins, exacerbating varicose vein symptoms. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can reduce this pressure and alleviate discomfort.

Elevate Your Legs

Elevating your legs above the level of your heart for 15-20 minutes several times a day can help reduce swelling and improve circulation in your legs.

Avoid Prolonged Sitting Or Standing

If your job requires long periods of sitting or standing, try to take breaks to move around and stretch your legs. This helps prevent blood from pooling in your veins. Avoid crossing your legs for long periods while sitting.

Wear Compression Stockings

Compression stockings apply gentle pressure to your legs, helping to improve blood flow and reduce swelling. They are especially beneficial for individuals who spend long hours on their feet or have a family history of varicose veins.

Follow A Healthy Diet

Eating a diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables can help prevent constipation, which can contribute to the development of varicose veins. Additionally, reducing your sodium intake can help decrease swelling.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking an adequate amount of water throughout the day can help maintain healthy blood flow and prevent dehydration, which can exacerbate varicose vein symptoms.

Avoid Tight Clothing

Tight clothing around the waist and legs can restrict blood flow and exacerbate varicose vein symptoms. Opt for loose-fitting clothing instead.

Quit Smoking

Smoking can weaken your veins and impair circulation, making varicose veins worse. Quitting smoking can improve overall vascular health and reduce the risk of complications.

How Can I Treat Varicose Veins?

If you believe you have varicose veins, talk to your doctor for a diagnosis so you can begin appropriate treatment. It is important to address and manage these symptoms before they worsen. There are multiple treatments that can help you in your path to relief and peace of mind.

Common varicose vein treatment options include:

Conservative Management

Medical compression stockings are utilized to support the venous system in the legs. They are useful for decreasing mild leg swelling, slowing the progression for varicose veins. They are generally worn throughout the day and for long periods of time.

"Often compression stockings, you can get them over the counter and they'll do wonders," Dr. Ramchandani said. "We'll often begin with compression therapy. If there's still persistence of issues, then we can cross the bridge over to a potential intervention.

Other ways to manage varicose veins can include lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss, elevation, and avoidance of prolonged standing.

Medical Procedures For Varicose Veins

When symptoms are severe and you need to prevent complications or simply want to improve your appearance, it might be time to consider a medical procedure to get rid of the varicose veins. Treatment options for varicose veins and spider veins include lasers, injecting the vein with a chemical that causes it to collapse, and different types of surgery, which are usually reserved for very large varicose veins. Just keep in mind that while varicose vein treatment can help existing varicose veins, it can't stop new ones from forming.

Sclerotherapy or Surface Laser

Sclerotherapy or Surface Laser is often used to treat visible spider veins and small varicose veins near the surface of the skin.

Adhesive Treatment

Using ultrasound, a very small catheter is inserted into the affected vein. A specially formulated medical adhesive is used to seal, or close, the diseased vein. Patients are generally encouraged to resume normal activities immediately after the procedure.

Endovenous Ablation

With endovenous ablation, a very small catheter is inserted into the affected vein using ultrasound. An energy source (i.e. laser, radiofrequency) is used to cause damage to the inside of the vein wall, causing is to seal down on itself and then eventually be absorbed by the body. Patients are generally encouraged to walk immediately after the procedure and resume normal activities the next day.

When Should I Call My Doctor About Varicose Veins?

Talk to your doctor right away if:

• A varicose vein becomes swollen, red, very tender or warm to the touch.
• You develop sores or a rash on the leg or near the ankle.
• The skin of your calf and ankle thickens and changes color.
• A varicose vein bleeds.
• Symptoms are getting in the way of everyday life.
• You start to experience any kind of pain.

If you experience varicose vein symptoms, consult your doctor for a diagnosis and discuss varicose vein treatment. Early intervention can prevent complications and improve your quality of life.