About Varicose Veins

Varicose veins of the leg is one of the most common medical conditions. Varicose veins affect between 15-25% of all adults, and approximately 50% of all people over age 50. Women have a higher incidence of varicose veins than men.

Causes of varicose veins
The single most important cause of varicose veins is heredity. Approximately 70% of all patients with varicose veins have parents with the same condition. Pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies, is a contributing cause of varicose veins. Other factors influencing varicose veins are age, obesity and jobs which require long periods of standing.

Treatments for varicose veins
Depending on the type and stage of varicose veins, there are many different treatments. Your physician can explain all of the options. The following are common treatments for varicose veins:

Compression stockings For minor pain from varicose veins, a compression stocking may be beneficial. The compression stocking will assist the leg in returning blood back to the heart. While the varicose vein symptoms may be relieved, compression stockings will not make the varicose vein go away.

Sclerotherapy Used commonly for spider veins and small varicose veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a small volume of a liquid sclerosing agent into the diseased vein. The sclerosing liquid acts upon the lining of the vein to cause it to seal shut, eliminating the vein completely. Sclerotherapy is quickly performed in a physician's office and no anesthesia is required.

Surgical Stripping Historically, the only treatment for large varicose veins has been to surgically remove or 'strip' the vein from the body. Surgical stripping is done in an operating room under anesthesia and requires a considerable recovery period for the patient. More recently, a modified version of stripping known as ambulatory phlebectomy has grown in use. In this version of surgical stripping, multiple incisions are made to hook and remove the vein one portion at a time. More incisions are made than in standard vein stripping, but the injury to the leg and post-surgery recovery time are minimized.

Endovenous Laser Therapy In the last few years, the use of lasers has become an accepted alternative to surgical stripping to treat varicose veins. In endovenous laser therapy, a thin laser fiber is inserted into the varicose vein, generally through a small puncture in the leg above where the visual symptoms appear. The physician then delivers laser energy through the fiber which causes the vein to close as the fiber is gradually removed. Endovenous laser therapy can be performed in a physician's office in less than one hour, and the patient is encouraged to walk immediately following the procedure.

For more information about varicose veins and the various treatment options, visit Treatveins.com.