Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are not as harmless as many believe they are - Rafael Castillo MD
image by: Vascular Institute
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Everything you wanted to know about vein problems (but were too busy pulling up your socks to ask)
Many people are distressed by the appearance of their legs – 15-20% of people have visible varicose veins, and an equivalent percentage may have hidden ones that can, nonetheless, cause symptoms such as aching legs, swollen ankles and discoloured patches of skin. Thread veins do not usually cause any medical symptoms, but are even more common; up to 84% of us have thread veins on one of our legs. Both conditions arise from the same basic issue: pressure in the vessels that return blood from the feet and legs back up to the heart.
Resources
Everything you will ever need to know about varicose veins (and yes, they're different from spider veins!)
We called upon expert in the field, Professor Whiteley, director of the Whiteley Clinic, to find out everything you need to know about the common condition.
How to Treat Varicose Veins at Home and at the Doctor's Office
The gold standard treatment for varicose veins is a procedure called sclerotherapy, in which a dermatologist "injects a sclerosing agent to collapse the poorly functioning veins," explains board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali. Sclerosing agent is the scientific term for a liquid or foam solution, typically made up of concentrated salt, which is injected directly into the compromised veins via a tiny needle.
Dear Mom, Thanks for Rocking Those Gigantic Varicose Veins, Which I Caused'
In search of a greeting card that does justice to the drastic, often permanent physical changes women's bodies undergo when they become mothers.
Does Weightlifting Cause Varicose Veins?
Your post-lifting "pump" may look a lot like varicose veins. Here, experts weigh in on whether lifting heavy causes varicose veins or not.
Dr Luisa Dillner's guide to . . . varicose veins
No one knows exactly why valves get damaged. They may get weaker with age. If you stand for a long time your blood may pool in your leg veins. Pregnancy increases the blood volume, and therefore the likelihood of varicose veins, but genetics is thought to play a large role. About half of people with varicose veins have family members with them. Overweight people have an increased risk because the veins are under more pressure.
Everything you need to know about spider veins (including how to get rid of them should you want to)
The most popular treatment is sclerotherapy, which involves a series of small injections. "This is virtually painless and the chemical used in the injection causes the vein to become sticky and close off," he says. "There may be bruising at first but this will quickly fade."
Health Check: what you should know about varicose veins
Visible varicose veins in the legs affect at least one third of the population and become more common with age. Women are more likely than men to develop them and all people with a family history of venous disease are at increased risk.
I’ve got varicose veins. What can I do about them?
There’s good evidence varicose veins have a genetic link and are also associated with a history of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots that obstruct the veins). It’s not possible to prevent varicose veins from forming, but simple actions can improve blood circulation in the feet and legs, and stop varicose veins from getting worse.
Pelvic venous reflux is a major contributory cause of recurrent varicose veins in more than a quarter of women
Leg varicose veins are associated with pelvic venous reflux in approximately 20% of women who have had children. However, most venous units do not routinely look for pelvic venous reflux or treat it.
The Problem With Men (And Their Veins)
Anyone can suffer from thread or varicose veins- nearly half of women and a quarter of men will experience symptoms in their lives. The difference between the sexes, though, is that women seek out treatment. Men typically don't: or at least not until it's too late.
Vanquish your varicose veins
Life is an uphill battle for the veins in your legs. "Varicose veins are a common medical problem. They affect everybody — men, women, people of all ages," says Dr. Sherry Scovell, a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. While some people think of these ropey veins as a cosmetic problem, they often cause physical symptoms, such as pain, aching, and a feeling of heaviness in the legs, she says.
Varicose veins are not as ‘harmless’ as many believe
Because of the risk factors associated with CVI, women are at greater risk than men to develop it. One of two women, and one out of four men over the age of 50, would be found to have CVI if diagnostic tests are done.
Why Exactly Do Veins Come Back After Treatment?
When patients undergo varicose vein surgery, they expect that they have had the right operation using the right techniques and so their veins should be fixed. However it is commonly considered that varicose veins always come back again. If this is true then there appears to be something wrong with varicose vein surgery or it might be that varicose veins are special and will always come back again regardless of treatment. Research from The Whiteley Clinic has established not only why varicose veins come back again in some patients and after some treatments but also how to prevent this from happening.
Everything you wanted to know about vein problems (but were too busy pulling up your socks to ask)
About 20% of people develop visible varicose veins – while 84% of us get thread veins on our legs. What can you do to prevent them? And can they pose a serious health risk?
5 Tips to Help Prevent Varicose Veins
There are ways to treat varicose veins, but you can also take measures to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Here are a few tips for reducing your chances of getting varicose veins.
6 Myths About Varicose Veins
Crossing your legs isn’t to blame, how to get rid of them, and more.
NHS
For most people, varicose veins don't present a serious health problem. They may have an unpleasant appearance, but should not affect circulation or cause long-term health problems. Most varicose veins don't require any treatment.
Phlebolymphology
The aim of Phlebolymphology is to provide the medical community with updated information written by well-known international specialists, in the form of state-of-the-art articles and original insights into the phlebology and lymphology fields.
Medtronic
Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic issue. Leg vein disease can cause varicose veins and other painful symptoms that can impact how you live. We believe life shouldn’t be limited by pain caused by vein disease, and that’s why we’re here to help you understand your pain and break free from it.
Society for Vascular Surgery
Varicose veins can occur in almost anyone and affect up to 35% of people in the United States. You may inherit a tendency to develop varicose veins from a parent. Women, women who have had multiple children, and obese persons are at a higher risk.
StatPearls
Varicose veins in the lower extremities involve the great and small saphenous veins and their tributaries between the fascia and the skin. Varicose veins are characterized by subcutaneous dilated, tortuous veins greater than or equal to three millimeters, involving the saphenous veins, saphenous tributaries, or non-saphenous superficial leg veins with age and family history considered important risk factors. For several reasons, including cosmetic complaints and complications with thrombosis formation, varicose veins should be treated.
VascularWeb
Large bulging veins in the legs that can cause many different types of symptoms. Varicose veins can occur in almost anyone and affect up to 35% of people in the United States. You may inherit a tendency to develop varicose veins from a parent. Women, women who have had multiple children, and obese persons are at a higher risk.
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