Varicose and Spider Veins

Veins are vessels that carry blood from the human body to heart and lungs. They are normal elements of the circulatory system. When veins fail to transport the blood properly, they form visible bulges filled with blood, also called varicose veins. Varicose veins are usually associated with heavy, aching or tired legs. In severe cases, they can produce ruptures or open sores on the skin. Varicose veins are most frequently on legs and thighs.

What are spider veins?

Small spider veins can appear on the skin's surface, usually on ankles, feet or thighs and sometimes even on the face. They look like small, fine lines, or a web-like maze.

Are varicose and spider veins dangerous or painful?

Generally, varicose and spider veins do not require any medical treatment. Varicose veins, however, can sometimes become really uncomfortable and look unattractive, especially as they worsen and get larger over time. They often cause the legs to swell. Even though very few people experience severe pain due to varicose veins, they do cause leg muscles to feel heavy and tired or cramp at night. The skin around the ankles and on the legs can also burn or itch.

In a few cases, varicose and spider veins lead to serious health problems and medical treatment does help. When varicose veins become severe, they can cause venous insufficiency, which refers to severe blood clogging that prevents blood from returning to the heart. This may lead to health problems such as blood clots or bleeding infections, usually when varicose veins are somehow injured. Blood clots are particularly dangerous because they can travel to the lungs and block lungs and heart from functioning. Another possible complication is for skin tissue around the veins to develop ulcers and sores because it does not get enough nourishment.

How can you prevent varicose and spider veins?

Varicose and spider veins can't always be prevented. However, there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of getting new ones and the discomfort caused by the ones you already have:

Keep a good posture when you are standing.
Try to maintain a normal body weight to avoid too much pressure in veins from the legs.
Avoid crossing your legs while sitting, as this slows the process of blood flowing upwards to the heart.
Do mild physical exercises, such as swimming, cycling, walking and rowing to improve blood circulation.
Try to avoid standing still for a long time. In case you have to, wear mild compression hose, as these help pumping blood to the heart more efficiently.
When you have to sit for a long time, stretch your legs, flex your toes and rotate your ankles.
Avoid clothing that constricts your legs, waist or groin.
Avoid wearing high heels.
When you are lying in bed, raise your legs 6-12 inches above your heart to help blood flowing back to the heart more easily.
Try not to use high-estrogen contraceptive pills.

How can spider and varicose veins be treated?

Various treatment options aim to restore blood circulation to its normal functioning by eliminating spider and varicose veins and rerouting the blood to healthy vessels. There are both surgical and non-surgical methods to help remove varicose and spider veins.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy consists of injcting a chemical within small varicose veins to affect the vein walls and causes scarring that closes off the affected vein. The treated vein, once no longer filled with blood, will become less visible. The patient will have to wear a compression bandage for 3-6 weeks after treatment. However, there's no guarantee other varicose veins will not appear. A possible side effect of sclerotherapy is skin discoloration.

Surgery

The affected veins can also be removed through a surgical procedure. There are several types of surgery, depending on which veins need to be treated. Ligation and stripping is the most common. This procedure involves tying off the affected vein at the top of the leg. Smaller varicose veins are removed by small incisions in the skin where they are attached to the ligated vein. This type of surgery ensures that removed varicose veins will not reappear. However, other veins can become varicose even after the treatment.