Varicose and Spider Veins

By Keith M. Sterling, MD

Association of Alexandria Radiologists, PC

More Child Health and Safety Articles

Varicose and Spider Veins

Are Your Legs Ready For Warmer Weather?

Saturday, March 20^th marked the official first day of spring for 2010. While many people, look forward to the warmer weather, some are apprehensive about the exposure of unsightly varicose or spider veins in the season's shorts, skirts and bathing suits. If you are among that not-so-excited group, you probably don't realize that simple treatment is available, affordable and highly effective.

Consult a specialist as your first step. Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic problem. They are a health problem and hallmark sign of venous reflux disease, also known as venous insufficiency.

Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. are affected by this condition, which may cause visible varicose and spider veins as well as painful symptoms, including, leg pain or swelling, leg heaviness and fatigue or skin discoloration or ulceration. And because spider veins may also be caused by venous insufficiency, only a specialist who uses ultrasound to diagnose abnormal blood flow patterns can recommend the appropriate treatment.

Healthy leg veins contain valves that open and close to assist the return of blood back to the heart. Venous insufficiency develops when these valves become faulty and, instead of returning blood to the heart, allow blood to flow backwards (or reflux) and pool in the veins. The pressure from this pooling effect can result in visible veins, painful symptoms and even blood clots.

Varicose and spider veins can be diagnosed with a simple ultrasound exam and then treated with minimally invasive techniques that are highly effective. Procedures often take less than one hour and provide cosmetic improvement as well as immediate relief from symptoms.

Your veins will shrink and improve in appearance while blood flow is naturally re-routed to other, healthy veins.

There is little or no down time as most patients return to normal activity in 24 48 hours. Procedures can be performed without stitches or scarring at a high success rate. That means, after treatment, your varicose veins will be gone and the chance that they will return is very low.