How to treat Varicose Veins, and what causes them?

Education on Varicose Veins, Veins, & Venous Insufficiency by world renown vascular surgeon Mitar Vranic DO owner of Western Vascular Institute.

Venous (Vein) disease treatments (Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment,
i. Varicose Veins – Varicose Veins are more than just a cosmetic issue. These large bulging and gnarled veins can cause pain as well as blood clots, skin ulcers and other serious problems. Our body has a system of veins that carry blood from the body tissues back to your heart. Once in the heart the blood is sent to the lungs to be oxygenated then delivered to arteries which take this oxygen rich blood again throughout your body. When the system of valves within the veins become “incompetent” and no longer push the blood upward toward your heart blood begins to pool within the vein. Because many veins are near the surface of the skin the pooling of blood creates visibly full veins that push outward creating the Varicose Vein.

Symptoms: Symptoms of Varicose Veins can be pain in the legs, itching, swelling, burning, leg heaviness or tiredness, & skin discoloration. Generally, symptoms worsen throughout the day (especially in hot temperature) when individuals are standing and the veins are having difficulty pumping the blood back to the heart.
Causes: Varicose veins are caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins that are not able to work properly against gravity and push the blood back up to the heart. This inability of veins to function properly is called venous insufficiency and is the main problem behind varicose veins. There are several potential causes for Varicose Veins and risk factors that an individual may be more likely to get them.

Risk Factors: Pregnancy, menopause age over 50, standing for long periods of time, sedentary lifestyle, obesity-which increases the pressure on the legs and makes it more difficult for the veins to pump the blood upward.

Diagnosis: Will be done during a physical examination while standing with a vascular surgeon. The physicians of Western Vascular Institute will also request that you have a Doppler ultrasound scan to check the blood flow in the superficial and deep veins.

Treatment:
a. Compression stockings: prescription grade compression stockings usually knee-high with 20mmHg-30mmHg of compression will help relive some of the symptoms of Varicose Veins and are generally required as conservative management for a period of 3 months before more aggressive treatments are considered.
b. Ablation therapy: After a 90 period if the more conservative therapy is unsuccessful at providing optimal relief ablation therapy is an option. Western Vascular Institute uses the Covidien Venefit (ClosureFast) Radio Frequency Ablation option for ablation therapy

c. Ambulatory Phlebectomy – minimally invasive procedure to remove varicose veins in the legs. In this procedure a very small incision is made in the skin at the tip of the large bulging vein and the vein is pulled out through the incision. This is procedure allows for speedy recovery and very little down time.

d. Sclerotherapy ( for Spider veins ) -using an ultrasound to direct the placement of a small needle the provider will inject a sclerosing agent into the spider vein that will help the vein break down naturally and be reabsorbed by the bodies natural processes.
Staying Healthy: to prevent getting more varicose veins make sure to maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and exercise. Avoid wearing high heels or shoes that put undue stress on your leg muscles. Also, avoid long periods of standing or sitting.

[richardnewsom]

Leg elevation, exercise, and compression stockings. Great info.

[BrefMcHugh]

Great video...a lot of people need help with not only treatment for vein problems..but also education on venous issues.

[krystal]

I really wish my doc would be patient to tell me all these information each year I went back for checkup. I did a keyhole surgery at 2015 and never really told me what they did during the day surgery. My leg was good and pain free for 2yrs only…. And I asked to stop my check up annually in 2019 I told doc I won’t go in anymore because the doc was never helpful when I went back for checkup….. iWhat I can share with my experience is, keep wearing a good pair of compression socks. Sigvaris if you want to try. I have more bad pain days before and during menses….discouraged however hopeful everyday. Always looking for solution to feel better. Jogging really helps but not lasting. It’s does keep me fit.

[carolynnr.]

I wish my doctor, or his nurse practitioner, would explain like this.

[titacel]

Through family history, I started to have varicose veins at age of 10years old became worst when I started to work now I'm 32, I can't afford the surgery. what make me wonder is my brother also had varicose veins, started when he was young ang bigger than mine before but it's gone without surgery or eating healthy food he's not even eating vegetables. One thing he do every day is being drunk and lots of walking some times no slippers🤣 weird and funny but I'm not joking his varicose veins disappeared.

[medhegyt]

Great explanation, thank you so much.
Do you have videos where doctors talk about compression stockings?

[travelguy]

Quick question - I have been supplementing a small dosage of Niacin each day, over the past nine months, to help balance my Cholesterol out and a few months ago I started having heaviness and achiness in my legs with slightly more noticeable surface veins. Is it possible that the vasodilation effects of Niacin (I notice a Niacin Flush for about 20 minutes) could be causing a lingering dilation in my leg veins, giving me the feeling of Venous Insufficiency - ? Thanks for your thoughts!

[eveoakley]

Unfortunately if you have incompetent perforators you will have to ensure you get the right vein specialist to assess and carry out the correct treatments. Truncal veins are easier to work on and many Vascular Surgeons are not experienced enough to work on smaller veins because most only deal with large vein damage.
I have been through it all and now more or less cured. Was the best money I ever spent in my life.

[Johndoe-nbcw]

Can those treatments be done for a varicocele?

[toma.]

Will ablation of gsv lead to aasv and ssv going bad also from increased blood flow now through them? Is venaseal better then evlt or rfa?

[flojosa]

How does long term use of the Pill contribute to this condition?

[maryanngacheri]

Hello help me doc .My venis are showning badly .. I cannot wear a short skirt ...Weird

[carolpenn]

I've had varicose veins for more than 30 yrs ( my mother had them too) unsightly but no pain til a few days ago. I was getting out of bed and felt the hot pepper blood rushed down my vein omg it was so painful i could not stand. Compression socks help but is not the answer. I don't know what to do😢😢😢

[mbuthiaperis]

I have a bleeding varicose ulcer wound for 3 months. What can I do

[vijaymamidishetti]

Which procedure is better for treatment of varicosity and insufficiency

[dreamerful]

Is it ok to take creatine if you have varicose veins?

[HunadiMogofe-txmg]

My legs are dry and painful and inflammation

[anneadhiambo-exsy]

How do I found your clinic.i want 2know more

[Ohkeh]

Can dermatologist treat them I’ll go see mine for the injections
Mine are on my thigh veeeery small green purple ones

[bredeannathomas]

Can working out at the gym cause them?