Heart and Vascular with Dr. Haqqani: Dealing with Varicose Veins

Omar P. Haqqanifor the everyday

published

12.25 pm CDT, Monday 17 September 2018

According to the Society of Vascular Surgeons, more than 25 million people in the United States develop varicose veins. They occur in men and women and are generally considered a health problem rather than a major health problem. They usually do not cause long-term problems and have no symptoms. In some cases, however, they can lead to or contribute to other health problems. These may include blood clots, ulcers or pain.

Causes and symptoms of varicose veins

Visible just below the surface of the skin, varicose veins occur most often in the legs and feet, although they can develop in other parts of the body. They are caused when veins with poorly functioning valves allow the blood to accumulate instead of leaking properly from the leg to the heart. This can create a blue or purple discoloration or can cause the veins to swell and reveal their outline when the skin protrudes around them.

Pain, discolouration of the skin, itching, swelling or burning sensation in the legs, or a feeling of tiredness or "heaviness" in the leg are often symptoms. Phlebitis is the term describing a clot in the varicose vein. The clot makes the vein hot, discolored, hard and painful. As varicose veins are located near the surface of the leg, phlebitis is not as severe as clots in deep veins that can result in deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Spider veins refer to small veins that may appear more red or blue near the surface of the skin. They often look like a spider web and can also appear on the face.

Who is in danger?

Varicose veins are more likely to develop in women, although they also affect men. Pregnancy increases the probability. The family medical history that shows them may increase the likelihood, as well as family history including deep vein thrombosis. Age is also a factor, varicose veins being the most likely to occur in people aged 30 to 70 years. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle also contribute, as does smoking and staying up or sitting for long periods of time.

Diagnosis and treatment

Spiders and varicose veins are diagnosed during an examination when a doctor will observe the texture and color of the protruding veins and how they are filling with blood. The speed of blood flow is then determined by an ultrasound, which also reveals the structure of the veins. This helps to determine if there are underlying issues to explore.

Compression stockings are among the options for treating spiders and varicose veins. The stockings are worn daily for several months in order to prevent the blood from flowing back through the vein valve. Wearing socks helps relieve the pain and swelling caused by varicose veins.

The procedure called sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical irritant into the affected veins, which causes the scar from the inside out. These veins are no longer filled with blood and the body will eventually absorb them. This is an outpatient procedure.

In stripping veins, another procedure is to perform incisions in the groin and below the knee. The diseased vein is then removed from the leg.

A microphlebectomy can remove small varicose veins by very small incisions in the leg. No stitches are necessary and it is also an outpatient procedure.

Finally, a laser venous ablation requires the insertion of a thin catheter into a leg vein. A small fiber laser at the tip of the catheter heats the walls of the veins and destroys them, completely closing the vein. This is done in an ambulatory clinical setting and the patient can resume normal activities the next day.

To learn more about varicose veins and treatment options, log on to vascularhealthclinics.org.

Do you have questions about your heart health? Ask Dr. Haqqani.

If you have questions about your cardiovascular health, including your heart, your blood pressure, your lifestyle, and other issues, we want to answer them. Please submit your questions to Dr. Haqqani by e-mail at [email protected]

Dr. Omar P. Haqqani is the Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Midland Vascular Clinics: www.vascularhealthclinics.org