Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Tag: Vein Treatments

Painful varicose and spider veins on female legs. Woman massaging tired leg

Types of Varicose Veins

When most people hear the term varicose veins, they automatically think that it means because you have varicose veins that they are only present in your legs.  However, you might be surprised to know that varicose veins are present in other parts of your body as well.  There are a few different types of varicose veins and many different options to get rid of each one of these types depending on the vein itself, type of varicose vein, the colors, sizes, etc.  Below, we will be talking about all types as well as treatment for each one available. 

vein specialist Repair Damaged Veins

How to Repair Damaged Veins

Many people suffer for years with damaged veins, when the answer to their problem is as simple as a consultation with a vein care specialist.  That consultation, along with a few tests could yield valuable information about your painful condition, and how to resolve it.  Often a patient waits, thinking the pain or the symptoms will abate, but they do not.  You should consider a consult with a vein care specialist when:

  • You have increased swelling in your leg(s);
  • The skin on your leg and/or ankle has become dark or thickened;
  • One of your veins has become red, painful and warm to the touch;
  • You have developed a sore or rash near your ankle;
  • Your leg veins have become more pronounced; and,
  • Your leg symptoms have begun to interfere with your daily activities,
Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing and Other Treatments for Spider Veins

Venous disease is common to both men and women (20% of men and 40% of women get Venous disease).  Why do women suffer more than men with vein problems?  For women pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations (namely progesterone) are the biggest culprits.  Swelling of the legs, a/k/a edema is more prevalent in men, with superficial thrombophlebitis more likely to affect women.

If you’re lucky enough to have remained unscathed by any type of venous disease thus far in your life, just wait a little longer.  People in their 70s are twice as likely to have venous disease as those in their 40s.  A lifetime of activities like heavy lifting, coughing, even straining to have a bowel movement, all contribute to pressure on leg veins.  A sedentary life style, obesity and a diet high in fat are all contributing factors to venous issues, because a fatty diet and lack of exercise decrease the efficiency of blood flow through large leg veins, thus increasing the likelihood of developing varicose veins or spider veins.

Common Questions About Varicose Veins

About Varicose VeinsCosmetic issues always seem to be an issue in our social environment these days.  You have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, weigh a certain weight, etc.  But, what about people that just can’t help it or they have things about themselves such as varicose veins that they are embarrassed by or ashamed of?  Honestly varicose veins are nothing to joke about nor are they just cosmetic.  In fact, these little veins that can sometimes look like they are bulging out of a person’s leg and are blue or green in color, can become quite serious if they are not looked at by a professional.  These veins are beneath the skin, but they tend to jut outwards looking like a tangled pile of twisted cords.  These do tend to appear on the legs and nowhere else.