Varicose Veins

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are engorged, often twisted, bumpy veins near your skin’s surface that contain pooled blood due to faulty valves. Usually on the legs, varicose veins form when the valves within your veins become leaky or otherwise faulty and cannot close enough for blood to continue flowing upward against gravity’s pull. 

While varicose veins themselves are more of a cosmetic concern and do not require medical treatment, you may need treatment for underlying or co-occurrent cardiovascular or circulation problems in the legs. There are also treatments that can make varicose veins vanish if you don’t like how they look. 

Which symptoms and complications can come with varicose veins?

Your varicose veins may or may not come with additional symptoms and vascular health complications. They’re often a sign of chronic venous insufficiency, which is a term for the inhibited upward flow of blood due to faulty valves in your veins. 

In addition to the visibly bulging purple, blue, or red vessels, you might experience:

• Leg swelling
• Restless legs
• Leg cramps
• Leg or foot ulcers
• Leg pain or heaviness
• Coldness or skin changes in the legs due to poor circulation

Sometimes, these issues worsen over time and lead to even more serious health concerns like blood clots in the legs, which can break away from where they formed and migrate to places where they can do much more damage like the lungs. This causes a complication called pulmonary embolism. 

How are varicose veins treated?

You can collaborate with Dr. Balachandran at Heart and Vascular Clinic to decide whether or not to treat your varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency. Treatments for these problems are primarily nonsurgical and can involve:

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy uses a chemical called a sclerosant, injected into the veins, to make varicose veins close and disappear. 

Medications

Various medications can help improve blood flow to treat symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency in the legs. 

Mechanically increasing blood flow

You can improve blood flow in the legs by wearing compression stockings, exercising, and elevating your legs while at rest. 

Laser or radiofrequency ablation

These procedures use energy to constrict and close an engorged varicose vein. 

If you have concerns about varicose veins or any symptoms that appear with them, call Heart and Vascular Clinic or book an appointment online today.