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News Author: Staff Editor Last Updated: Sep 7, 2017 - 10:06:33 PM



Your Legs Vs. Time and Gravity: Preventing Varicose and Spider Veins

By Staff Editor
Mar 31, 2016 - 8:08:21 AM



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(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Embarrassing, isn't it? Your varicose veins. Sure, they're not painful, but let's be honest. You'd rather wear pants than shorts. Is that any way to live your life? Never going to the beach. Never feeling comfortable in a swimming pool. Never wanting to just relax in the sun during the summer months.

If you want your life back, here's what you need to know about the condition and treatments.

What Is It?

Maybe your doctor told you once but you forgot. Varicose veins and telangiectasia (spider veins) are the visible signs of a particular kind of blood circulation problem. Specifically, you have reverse venous flow. Very mild forms of this are just uncomfortable and annoying. Sometimes, they can be cosmetically disfiguring. But in severe cases, the disease can progress to produce serious and systemic symptoms.

What Are The Symptoms?

If you're like most people with the condition, you've noticed some of the symptoms. But, if you're in the early stages of the illness, you probably don't know everything that's about to happen. Here are some of the most common symptoms you should be aware of:


●       Heaviness in the legs

●       An inability to run or walk long distances

●       Pain or tenderness along the course of your veins

●       Pruritus

●       A burning sensation in the legs

●       Night cramps that can't be explained by any other cause

●       Restless legs

●       Edema in the legs

●       Changes in the appearance of the skin

●       Paresthesias

You might also experience:


●       Swelling in the legs

●       Burning

●       Throbbing

●       Fatigue in the legs

How Do You Manage The Disease?

Most doctors recommend the following:

Sclerotherapy - Of all the varicose veins treatment, this is the most popular. A doctor injects a solution directly into the vein, causing the blood to clot. Over a period of time, the vessel will turn to scar tissue and then fade. This procedure has worked since the 1930s.

Laser and intense-pulsed-light therapy - Another therapy that's popular is laser and IPLT. A doctor will use a high-intensity laser to "erase" the spider or varicose veins. If there are any "feeder" veins, those will have to be dealt with surgically.

Radiofrequency (RF) or laser ablation - This procedure cauterizes the open vein and prevents it from becoming a bigger problem.

Ambulatory phlebectomy - This procedure involves making small incisions in the leg so that the veins can be removed altogether.

Is The Condition Serious?

In general, no.

Neither spider veins nor varicose veins pose a serious health problem for most people. But, they can be rather uncomfortable. If there are symptoms, like itching or burning, that is usually the extent of the problem.

Of the two, varicose veins may present as a more serious problem in some cases. Sores or skin ulcers may develop due to chronic backing up of blood. These sores can be very painful and difficult to heal, if they heal at all. Sometimes, they won't heal at all until the condition has been corrected.

How Does It Get Diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose your condition based on an extensive physical examination. He or she will look at your legs while you're standing or sitting with your legs dangling. You may be asked about your symptoms, including any pain you experience. Sometimes, you may be asked to go through other tests to determine the extent of the problem.

Your doctor may also want to rule out other health conditions.

For example, your doctor might order an ultrasound to see your veins' structure, check out the flow of blood through the veins, look for clots, and other related problems. The tests involve using sound waves to create a picture of the structures inside your body. From there, the doctor can see the problem more clearly.

You may also require a venogram. This test will give the doctor a more thorough and detailed look at the problem.

Some doctors are more capable at diagnosing the problem than others. For example, these doctors are more likely to help than other types of doctors:


●       A phlebologist

●       A vascular medicine doctor

●       A vascular surgeon

●       A dermatologist

●       An interventional radiologist

Ask your primary care physician if you can be referred to any of these specialists. While your GP should be able to perform basic diagnostic tests, a specialist may be able to better help you for tough cases or where the condition may have several possible diagnoses.

Regardless, if you suspect a problem, see your doctor right away. While there is no immediate danger from varicose veins, you want to be sure that this is, in fact, the problem and that it isn't a more serious condition.

Dr Peter Paraskevas, is a qualified phlebologist and a full member of the Australasian College of Phlebology, and has a strong background in Emergency and General Medicine. Previously, Dr Paraskevas worked in Private Practice during which time he developed an interest in varicose vein disease, venous ulcers and peripheral arterial disease. He decided to completely dedicate himself to the assessment and treatment of chronic venous disease and as such, established Vein Health Medical Clinic, a vein clinic that is solely dedicated to varicose vein disease and treatment.

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