Veins - Part 2     Veins - Part 3     Veins - Part 4     HOME


Vein Health Issues

Micro sclerotherapy.
Micro center is used to treat spider veins and other very small varicose veins.

A small amount of liquid chemical is injected into a vein using a very fine needle.
The chemical scars the inner lining of the vein, causing it to close off.

Laser Vein Surgery.
This procedure applies light energy from a laser onto a varicose vein. The laser light makes the vein fade away. Laser vein surgery is mostly used to treat smaller varicose veins. No cutting or injection of chemicals is involved.

Endovenous Ablation Therapy.
Ablation therapy uses lasers or radio waves to create heat to close off a varicose vein.

Your doctor makes a tiny cut in your skin near the varicose vein.
The doctor inserts a small tube called a catheter into the vein. He or she then inserts a small tube called a catheter into the vein. The device at the tip of the tube heats up the inside of the vein and closes it off. You will be awake during this procedure, but your doctor will numb the area around the vein. You usually can go home the same day as the procedure.

Endoscopic Vein Surgery.
For endoscopic vein surgery, your doctor will make a small cut in your skin near the varicose vein. The physician then uses a tiny camera at the end of a thin tube to move through the varicose-vein. A surgical device at the end of the camera is used to close the vein. Endoscopic vein surgery is usually only used in severe cases when varicose veins are causing skin ulcers. After scoping, within a couple weeks you usually can return to normal activities.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy.
For ambulatory phlebectomy your doctor will make small cuts in your skin to remove small varicose veins. This procedure usually is done to remove the varicose veins closest to the surface of your skin. You will be awake during the procedure, but your doctor will numb the area around the vein. Usually, you can go home the same day the procedure was done.

Vein Stripping and Ligation Vein Stripping.
Vein ligation stripping is done only for severe cases of varicose veins. The procedure involves tying shut and removing the veins through small cuts in your skin. You will be given medicine to temporarily put you to sleep so you don't feel any pain during the procedure.

Vein stripping and ligation usually is done as an outpatient procedure.
The recovery time from the stripping and ligation procedure is about 1 to 4 weeks. You can't prevent varicose veins from forming. However, you can prevent the ones you have from getting worse. You also can take certain steps to delay new varicose veins from forming.

Avoid standing or sitting for long periods without taking a break.
When sitting for a long time, avoid crossing your legs. Raise your legs when sitting, resting, or sleeping. When possible, raise your legs above the level of your heart (such as the woman in the picture above is doing).

Do physical activities to get your legs moving and improve circulation and muscle tone.
Activities and exercising will get your legs moving and help muscle tone. This helps blood move through your arteries and veins.

If you are overweight and in particular obese, then Losing weight asap can help varicose veins lose weight ASAP.
Weight loss will improve blood flow and ease the pressure on your veins and possibly stop new varicose veins developing.

Avoid wearing tight clothes.
Especially avoid clothing which is too tight around your waist, upper thighs, feet and legs. Avoid all tight clothes, in particular clothing tight around the legs since tight fitting clothes can make leg varicose veins worse.

Avoid wearing high heels for long periods of time.
Normal or low heel shoes can help tone your calf muscles. Good muscles tone helps move blood efficiently through the veins.

Wear compression stockings if advised to by your your doctor.
These stockings create gentle pressure up the leg. The leg pressure keeps blood from pooling in the veins and decreases leg swelling.

Living With Varicose Veins.
Varicose veins are a common condition, in particular with females. They often cause few signs or symptoms. If your signs and symptoms are minor, your doctor may suggest you simply making basic lifestyle changes.

If the condition of your veins is more severe.
For example, if you have significant pain, blood clots, or skin ulcers eveloping, your doctor may recommend one or more medical procedures. A number of treatments are available that are quick and easy and don't need long recovery times.

Key Points.
Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins that you can see just under the surface of the skin. Varicose and spider veins usually occur in legs, although they also can form in other parts of the body.

Varicose veins are a common condition.
They usually cause few signs or symptoms. In some cases, they may cause mild to moderate pain, small blood clots, or skin-based ulcers, but not in all cases.

Other types of vein problems are related to varicose veins.
Other issues are telangiectasias, spider veins, varicocele, venous lakesad reticular veins. Other types of vein problems are sometimes related to varicose veins, including surprisingly hemorrhoids.

Weak or damaged valves in the veins can cause varicose veins.
One-way valves inside the veins open to let blood flow through and then shut to keep blood from flowing backward. If the valves are weak or damaged, blood can back up and pool in your veins. which causes vein swelling.

A number of factors may increase your risk for getting spider and varicose veins including lack of movement and exercise.

The signs and symptoms of varicose veins include large veins that you can see on your skin.
Mild swelling of your ankles and feet; painful, aching, or 'heavy' legs; throbbing or cramping in your legs; itchy legs; and discolored skin in the area near and around the varicose vein.

Sometimes varicose veins can lead to dermatitis, which is a troublesome and difficult to treat itchy skin rash.

Varicose veins also can lead to superficial thrombophlebitis.
This refers to a blood clot which occurs in a vein that's located at the skin surface.

Doctors often diagnose varicose veins based on a physical exam alone.
Sometimes additional medical tests or procedures are done to confirm an ill vein health diagnosis.

Lifestyle changes often are the first treatment for varicose veins.
Lifestyle changes can prevent varicose veins from getting worse, reduce chronic widespread pain, and delay other varicose veins from starting.

If your condition is more severe, your doctor may recommend one or more medical procedures.
A number of quick and easy medical treatments are possible which do not require a long recovery time.

Some people choose to have a medical procedure to improve the appearance of varicose veins or to relieve pain.
You can't prevent varicose vein from forming. However, you can prevent the ones you have from getting worse. You also can take steps to delay more varicose veins.

You Can Also take steps to varicose veins other delay from forming.
Avoid sitting or standing for long time periods, stay active, lose weight (if you're overweight), avoid tight clothes and wearing high heels and wear compression stockings if advised by doctor.


home page