subject: Treatment For Spider And Varicose Veins At Vein Centers Of Texas [print this page] Millions of people suffer from vein problemsMillions of people suffer from vein problems. Spider veins are unsightly. Varicose veins cause discomfort and can be a health threat. Here we will discuss these common vein conditions in more detail what they are, what causes them, and some of the symptoms you might be experiencing. More information on prevention methods and treatment options is available at vein centers of Texas.
Your body contains a vast network of tubes designed to carry blood. Arteries transport oxygenated blood out of the heart to organs and tissues throughout the body. Veins deliver it back into the muscle called the heart.
When its all working well, you feel good and probably never give a thought to your venous system. However, when the venous system is not working properly, you develop spider and varicose veins. If you have these conditions, rest assured, you are not alone. The Vascular Disease Foundation estimates that about 24 million people in the United States (and half of all people over the age of 50) have varicose veins. Up to 55 percent of women and as many as 45 percent of men in America have some form of problem with their veins.
Varicose veins are enlarged ones that appear as bulging, twisted cords. They may retain a fleshy color, or look blue or reddish. They are most frequently found on calves and thighs of men and women, especially after the age of 40.
Spider veins are small blood vessels that lie close to the surface of the skin. They appear as a mesh (spider web) of short, jagged lines; brown, red, or bluish in color, and are not typically raised. Spider veins may appear on the face or legs where they sometimes cover a large area.
Spider and varicose veins have a similar cause weakened or damaged valves in the veins. Your heart pumps oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to your body, carried through arteries. As your muscles squeeze, the contraction helps push de-oxygenated blood back to the heart to be replenished. Valves in the veins keep blood flowing in the proper direction. If they are weakened or damaged, the blood pools, forming spider and varicose veins. They frequently form in the legs because there the muscles are working against gravity to push blood back toward the heart.
Your risk of developing varicose or spider veins increases with age, if you have a family history of this condition, during periods of hormonal change (menopause, pregnancy, puberty, or when taking birth control pills or other medications that contain progesterone or estrogen), due to obesity, from long periods of sitting or standing, and from sun exposure.
Spider veins are usually painless. Symptoms of varicose veins include aching, throbbing, or cramping in the legs; a feeling of heaviness; swelling; itchy rash; restless legs; and sometimes darkened skin. Varicose veins can lead to skin ulcers and thrombosis.
You dont have to live with unappealing spider veins or the discomfort of varicose veins. Effective, non-surgical treatment options are available. See a vein center of Texas to learn more about sclerotherapy and endovenous ablation.
