Varicose veins are twisted, bulging, disordered veins that commonly appear in the legs and abdominal region. However, these superficial veins can develop anywhere. Today, our vein experts at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta in Alpharetta, GA are discussing everything you need to know about this type of disordered vein, including their primary cause.
What Is the Main Cause of Varicose Veins?
The main cause of varicose veins is an excessive amount of blood pressure in the veins. In some cases, this excess venous pressure is caused by obesity or pregnancy. In both cases, a significant amount of extra weight is usually stored in the lower abdomen, putting a lot of pressure on the veins in the lower abdomen and legs.
Pregnancy is also a significant contributing factor to the development of disordered veins due to the extreme hormone fluctuations that occur. These hormone fluctuations lead to extra blood production, applying even more pressure against the venous walls. In fact, it is incredibly common for disordered veins to occur during pregnancy due to the extra blood pushing against the venous walls from the inside and excess weight pushing down from the outside.
What Are Some Other Factors That Lead to the Development of Varicose Veins?
A sedentary lifestyle is another significant risk factor of developing disordered veins. Regular physical activity is essential for cardiovascular health. The healthier your cardiovascular system is, the less likely you are to develop disordered veins. Unfortunately, most Americans have jobs that require them to sit or stand in one place for several hours at a time. Then they have to come home, make sure the kids do their homework, cook, clean, and try to sleep.
If you have a sedentary job, you need to make a point to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate cardiovascular activity weekly. This will significantly reduce your chance of developing disordered veins in the future once your existing disordered veins are treated. Regular physical activity is a great way to improve your venous health and overall health. Your risk of developing disordered veins increases as you age.
A Special Note
Be advised, if you feel like you don’t have 30 minutes per day to exercise, you’re not alone. Life is hectic, and it can feel impossible to string together 30 minutes in a row for exercise. Fortunately, it is not necessary to exercise 30 minutes in a row to improve your vein health. You can break your daily exercise up into two 15-minute sessions or three 10-minute sessions.
It is also worth mentioning that you should try to move around for a couple of minutes every hour at work. If you don’t need to grab a fresh cup of coffee or use the restroom, go talk to someone across the buildings or do some squats and toe raises at your desk. If you watch TV when you get home from work, do some gentle calisthenics during the commercial breaks. Even walking in place is better than sitting in the recliner.
How Are Disordered Veins Treated?
We offer several varicose vein treatment methods. Which method is right for you depends on a number of factors, including liquid sclerotherapy, ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, and phlebectomy. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular varicose vein treatment methods.
Liquid Sclerotherapy
Liquid sclerotherapy is an ideal treatment method for small disordered veins, like spider veins. However, it is possible to treat veins that are varicose using this method. During this treatment, a liquid sclerosant is injected inside the wall of the varicose vein. This liquid sclerosant irritates the vein to the point that it collapses in on itself. Eventually, the vein starves to death and is consumed by local healthy tissues.
Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is similar to liquid sclerotherapy in that it involves administering a sclerosant into the wall of a disordered vein. However, ultrasound technology is used to guide the administration of the sclerosant.
This technique is ideal when the disordered veins are larger, more twisted, or further from the surface of the skin. Typically, only one treatment session is necessary to treat veins that are varicose. However, you may need two treatment sessions if you have extremely large, twisted disordered veins.
Phlebectomy
Phlebectomy is another very popular way to treat very disordered veins. During phlebectomy, a very small incision is made to access the disordered vein. Very small tools are used to ligate (tie off) the disordered vein, starving it of blood. Then, the tied-off vein is removed.
Which Technique Is Right for Me?
We will advise you on which technique is right for you during your initial consultation. This depends on such factors as the severity and location of your disordered veins.
Book an Evaluation Today
Varicose veins are caused, primarily, by too much blood pressure inside the veins. Risk factors include obesity, age, and a sedentary lifestyle. To learn more about disordered veins, contact us today at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta in Alpharetta, GA to book an evaluation. We will identify the type of disordered vein you have, determine the cause, and advise you on your best course of action.
