Frequently Asked Questions About
Comprehensive Vascular and Endovascular Care
Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Q: What are Varicose Veins?
A: Look at the back of you hands or the top of your foot and you can see veins beneath the skin. Those are part of the normal venous system that returns blood to the heart after it has been pumped through the arteries.
Q: Are Varicose Veins and Spider Veins are different?
A: Varicose veins are swollen dilated veins that bulge out in the skin of the legs when we are standing. They are blue or dark purple, twisted, and often look like a cluster of grapes.
Spider veins are smaller and closer to the surface of the skin. They don’t bulge out like varicose veins but are often more noticeable. They can be red or blue in color, and look like a tree branch, spider webs, or starburst with their thread-like appearance. Spider veins can occur anywhere on the legs.
Q: What are the risk factors for varicose veins and spider veins?
A:
- Family history
- Pregnancy or hormone treatment of replacement
- History of deep venous thrombosis
- Obesity
- Prolonged standing
- Age
- History of chronic venous insufficiency
Often we cannot prevent varicose veins or spider veins, but a complete venous evaluation will give us the best treatment options.
Q: What are the symptoms of varicose veins and spider veins?
A: In many cases, varicose veins and spider veins may cause no symptoms at all. However, these veins often look unattractive and may become painful. Many people with varicose veins or spider veins experience aching, burning, itching, or throbbing in the veins. They may also feel heaviness, tiredness, or cramping of the legs and leg swelling may also occur.
Leg pain can come from many causes. Be sure your vein problem is evaluated by a vascular specialist.
Q: How common are varicose and spider veins?
A: More than 80 million Americans suffer from venous disease, including varicose and spider veins.
Varicose veins and spider veins have afflicted mankind throughout recorded history.
Q: How do you diagnose varicose and spider veins?
A: A thorough exam of the legs by a vascular specialist will confirm the diagnosis of varicose veins or spider veins, and determine their severity. A simple ultrasound scan can help determine the cause of the problem in almost every case. This painless ultrasound test will quickly and easily determine if CVI or DVT have ever been present. These tests will also identify the best treatment for each case.
Q: Are varicose and spider veins dangerous?
A: Varicose veins or spider veins almost never pose a risk to your health or well-being!
In some cases, varicose veins and spider veins can be a sign of more serious problems, like chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) caused by failure of venous valves or blockages in the veins.
Q: What problems can chronic venous insufficiency cause?
A:
- Bruising or bleeding from the veins
- Phlebitis – inflammation of veins
- Venous ulcers – leg sores caused by poor skin nourishment around the ankle area.
An exam by a vascular specialist, with a simple ultrasound scan can easily detect these more serious problems!
Q: What treatments are available?
A: Since most varicose veins and spider veins pose no serious health risk, treatments are generally aimed at eliminating the unsightly appearance of the veins themselves.
Q: What is Sclerotherapy?
A: An injection of medications that obliterates the veins. This works best for spider veins but may also be used for some varicose veins.Some laser treatment may also be used for theses smaller venous problems.
Help for Varicose Veins