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What You Should Know Regarding Spider Veins

26th January, 2011 - Posted by health news - No Comments

When veins near the surface of the skin enlarge and become more obvious, they are called varicose veins. This problem occurs most often in the legs, because the weight of the body puts the most pressure on this area, but they can occur anywhere. While not usually dangerous, occasionally vein contents can lead to or be indicative of other problems.

A normal vein has a one-way valve that only allows blood to flow towards the heart. The valve prevents fluid from building up in the vein by not allowing flow in the direction of gravity. Varicose veins are the result of leaky valves that allow blood to flow in the wrong direction. This blood builds up and puts pressure on the vein walls, which then stretch into the large, visible structures seen on patients.

Risk factors for varicose veins include heredity, pregnancy, age, and standing for long periods of time, such as at a job. Being overweight or obese is also a risk factor. All of these, with the exception of heredity, place more pressure on the veins in the lower limbs, which can cause them to weaken and their valves to leak.

Generally, the development of varicose veins is benign but every once in a while, they may indicate a larger problem. This problem might be a blood clot, a vein abnormality, or even a tumor. This means that to be safe, you should get your condition examined by a doctor after you notice it. The affected veins will be visible through the skin, and a diagnosis is usually made by simply looking at the legs while the patient stands. There are no other tests performed in most cases, though an ultrasound may be done if deep vein abnormalities are suspected.

Treatment for the problem can either be medical or at home. At home treatments consist of compression stockings, elevating your legs, staying off your feet for long periods of time, and losing weight if you are overweight or obese. Exercise improves circulation, and walking, biking, swimming and doing other exercise is recommended as well. The same methods that are recommended for home treatment may be used to help prevent the development of the problem in people at high risk.

Medical treatments include surgical removal of the affected veins, laser treatments, radio frequency treatments and sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is the use of an injectable chemical into the affected veins, which scar and close up. It is best used on small veins. Laser and radio frequency treatments both also scar the veins until they close, but can be used effectively on larger problem veins. The largest veins usually require surgical excision.

After your doctor has made sure that your condition is not the result of a larger issue, he or she will probably recommend watchful waiting. If you aren’t in discomfort because of your veins, you probably only need to perform home treatments. Contact your doctor if you experience bleeding from an affected vein, sore developing on an affected limb, or swelling and pain in the area, because any of these could indicate a bigger problem.

Some people choose to treat even veins that are not causing them discomfort, because of aesthetic considerations. The major risk of treatment, aside from potential surgical complications, is that the problem can recur in other veins. Since the issue is caused by leaky valves, the risk of recurrence can be lowered by alleviating pressure on the varicose veins in the legs if you follow preventative measures after treatment provided by the Michigan vein clinic.