Varicose veins are large, raised, and swollen blood vessels. Spider veins are small, red, purple, or blue veins that look like a spider’s web or the branches of a tree. Both of these vein health conditions result from the weakening of the blood vessel walls. Varicose veins might also be caused by issues with faulty valves in the veins.
The most common symptoms of varicose veins and spider veins are:
The cause of these vein conditions is the weakening of the walls of the veins, which leads to conditions like clots, blood leaking into the skin, and eventually, ulcers on the ankles. Trauma to the skin or surgery can also potentially cause these vein health issues.
The risk factors for these vein conditions are:
Duplex ultrasound is the most common test that is used to diagnose this condition. Triplex ultrasound can be used to add colour to highlight the blood flow in the affected area. Computed tomography venography (CTV) can also be used to get detailed images of the veins. Understanding the blood flow and condition of the veins that are involved is important, not just for diagnosis but also to help determine treatment for the patient.
The treatment of these vein conditions can vary based on the severity of the impact on the blood flow within the veins. Mild cases might not require any treatment and will just be monitored to ensure that the veins do not become severely compromised.
Sclerotherapy can be done to improve the condition of the veins by injecting a solution into the veins that help improve their appearance. Surgery can be the best option for more severely impacted veins. Ligation and stripping are the most common surgical methods used to manage varicose veins. The impacted veins can sometimes also be removed completely.
Prevention of these vein health issues can be difficult if you have a genetic predisposition to them. However, you can improve the health of the veins in your legs if you make sure to get enough exercise every day and through the use of compression stockings when you are travelling or sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Patients with these vein conditions might need to lose weight, and they might need to stop smoking. If you are not eating a healthy diet, you should consider improving the quality of the food that you are eating. Patients can also improve the health of their veins by elevating their feet when they are sitting down or sleeping.