Collin County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 12

Summer is here,
say goodbye to Varicose Veins!

V

aricose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Any vein may
become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected
are dependent areas like legs and feet where pressure
increases with standing and walking.
Varicose veins initially appear as small spider veins which are
simply a cosmetic concern. Over time, varicose veins can cause
aching pain and discomfort. Varicose veins may also signal a
higher risk of other circulatory problems.

Signs and Symptoms

• Veins that are dark purple or blue
• An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in
your lower legs
• Itching around one or more of your veins
• Skin ulcers near your ankle, which could indicate vascular
disease which requires medical attention

Risk Factors

• Age. The risk of varicose veins increases with age.
Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your
veins that help regulate blood flow.
• Sex. Women are more likely to develop the condition. Taking
hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills may
increase your risk of varicose veins.
• Family history. If other family members had varicose veins,
there’s a greater chance you will too.
• Obesity. Being overweight puts added pressure
on your veins.
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Complications
• Ulcers
• Blood Clots

Treatment Options
Self-Care such as exercising, losing weight, not wearing tight
clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding long periods of standing
or sitting — can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting
worse. Wearing compression stockings is often the first approach
to try before moving on to other treatments.
Sclerotherapy is a spider vein removal technique that uses a
chemical injection, such as a saline or a detergent solution to close
off small spider veins. Sclerotherapy is the most popular method of
spider vein removal for good reason. Sclerotherapy is more effective
and less expensive than lasers (for spider veins, not varicose veins).
Phlebectomy Occasionally, varicose veins near the surface of the

10

Collin County Living Well Magazine • Summer 2014