Have you been experiencing throbbing pain in your legs with a few veins appearing blue or purple in color? You probably have varicose veins. For the uninitiated, varicose veins are bulging, bluish veins that are often swollen and known to cause pain. You may also have spider veins, which look like flooded capillaries. Varicose veins are usually harmless, but many patients experience pain and discomfort. People also seek help for cosmetic reasons. Before seeing a vein doctor in South Carolina, here are some aspects to know about varicose veins.
What are varicose veins?
When the blood flow to your veins is affected, it may cause varicose veins. These varicose veins appear primarily in the legs but can affect other parts of the body too. Relatively common, varicose veins affect close to 25% of adults in the US. Vein conditions appear when the valves don’t work as effectively to push blood back to the heart, causing pooling in the affected veins. Things that put excessive pressure on your legs are likely factors, including obesity, pregnancy, and standing for long hours. Other rare causes include tumors and constipation. Because veins get weaker with age, you may experience more symptoms as you grow older.
Preventing varicose veins
There are several things you can do to reduce discomfort associated with varicose veins. Firstly, always have an active lifestyle and exercise more, which will keep the legs toned and help maintain normal blood flow. As obesity is one of the many factors, losing weight may help reduce pain related to vein conditions. Wearing extremely tight clothes can restrict blood flow to the legs, causing varicose veins. It is also best to avoid wearing high heels for long hours. Some studies have linked varicose veins to smoking. If you are pregnant, consider sleeping on your left side, which will reduce pressure on the veins in your pelvic area.
Treatment for varicose veins
There are several treatments for varicose veins, including surgery. Talk to a vein specialist to learn about non-surgical therapies that are safer and have little to no downtime. You can expect your doctor to explain the pros and cons of each option, including older but effective treatments like sclerotherapy. There are also laser treatments that work as effectively. Venous ablation is another option for varicose veins. The good news is that you can expect significant results with surgery, too, although your doctor will usually prefer non-invasive methods with fewer side effects.
Check online now to find local vein doctors near you.