How do varicose veins develop?

Your veins carry blood from your body back to the heart, so it can be re-circulated. The leg muscles contract to help ‘pump’ the blood upward and the veins each have tiny valves inside to keep blood flowing in the right direction. These valves are "one-way" and keeps blood from flowing backward. A malfunction in one or more of these valves leads to varicose veins.

Many circumstances related to your health or lifestyle can lead to your veins becoming stretched out. This makes it harder for the valve in the vein to do its job. Blood can flow backward and pool in the vein, causing it to become swollen.

Varicose veins are the large, ropy, and twisting blue vessels which appear in the skin anywhere from the thigh to the foot. They are almost always the result of an incompetent saphenous vein, meaning that the one-way valves do not close properly. The reflux of blood back down the saphenous vein causes high vein pressures which are transmitted into the skin veins, resulting in the twisted and ballooned out skin veins. Varicose veins are often painful due to the high pressure inside the vessel, and the pain may affect the entire leg. When blood flow is slow or stagnant through these veins, they will often form a clot. The result is classic phlebitis, meaning the painful, hot, and red area around a clotted varicose vein.

The diagnosis of this problem can be determined by a physical examination and non-invasive ultrasound test. The pattern of varicose or spider veins on the leg will often indicate what part of the trunk vein anatomy is abnormal. This is determined during the first consultation visit with Dr. Reeder or Dr. Whiddon.

The treatments to eliminate varicose veins and all vein abnormalities have improved dramatically in recent years. The abnormal saphenous vein is eliminated by modern endovenous laser ablation (using the CoolTouch CTEV laser) or endovenous radio-frequency ablation (using the VNUS Closure method). Both methods are excellent and both have superior results when compared to the old "stripping" operation.

What are the symptoms and signs of varicose veins?

Everyone experiences their own unique symptoms, but classic signs of varicose veins include:

• Aching legs, aching feet and a heavy feeling in the legs.
• Burning, throbbing or itching, especially in the lower legs.
• Dark blue or purple veins that may look "ropy" or bulging.
• Swelling or discoloration of the lower leg.

What factors can cause varicose veins to develop?

Family history ("Family Veins") – Many of the choices we make in life can lead to varicose veins or aggravate them. However, it’s not necessarily your choice or your fault – family history is often a factor.

If your close relatives have varicose veins, it may be only a matter of time until you develop them, too – despite all the good things you may do for your health, like not smoking and making sure you eat right and get regular exercise.

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Pregnancy ("Mommy Veins") – During pregnancy, your body goes through monumental physical changes. Most of them are temporary, but your new varicose veins may not be.

Pregnancy makes you more susceptible to this health problem because, as your baby grows, the uterus puts increased pressure on your veins. Hormonal changes can also cause the walls of the veins to relax. These factors can combine to cause the one-way valve in one or more veins to stop working. So, blood that should return to the heart instead pools and stagnates. The result can be the heavy, itchy, uncomfortable feeling of varicose veins.

Your doctor can recommend many ways to keep you comfortable during pregnancy, including regular, moderate exercise, plenty of rest, support stockings and keeping your legs elevated, especially during the evening.

If you’ve had varicose veins with previous pregnancies or you have a family history of varicose veins, the problem may not go away on its own. Your varicose veins may even get worse and require treatment so that you can feel your best and enjoy life with your growing family.

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Your job ("Work veins") – If you stand on your feet all day, you may be paying a price – achy, tired, heavy legs caused by varicose veins.

Blood in your veins has to fight gravity to return to your heart. So, when you’re on your feet for hours at a time, especially standing in one place, that blood has an even harder time making its way back up through the body. It can flow backwards, pooling and stagnating – and that’s what leads to varicose veins.

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Weight problems ("Heavy Veins") – Being overweight puts added pressure on the entire body – veins included. Increased pressure can cause the veins to enlarge and damage the valve that keeps blood flowing toward the heart. Often, people with weight problems may not be getting regular exercise, which can lead to circulation problems and make varicose veins worse.

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