Health Blog

Varicose veins are common and usually nothing to worry about. For many people, the twisted and enlarged bluish or purplish veins visible near the surface of the skin are simply a cosmetic concern.

But if you are experiencing pain or discomfort, this could be a sign of a more serious problem.

Varicose veins usually occur in the legs, specifically on the inner thighs or the bottom of your calves. They are caused by increased blood pressure in the veins for a prolonged ...

What is endovenous laser varicose vein surgery?

Endovenous laser varicose vein surgery is a procedure that uses heat from a laser to reduce varicose veins. Varicose veins are swollen, bulging veins that often happen on the thighs or calves. A laser is a device that sends a thin beam of radiation in the form of light.

Laser surgery closes and shrinks the varicose vein and causes scar tissue within the vessel. This seals off the vein. Blood then flows through other nearby ...

Rather than destroying or removing defective veins, it is possible to repair them by using a sheath. They are thus saved for later use as a bypass.

In cases of severe varicose vein disease, dilated veins are usually removed or destroyed. However, when patients later need a bypass due to circulatory problems, the large blood vessels are then not available as a substitute. In a multicentre study led by Dr. Dominic Mühlberger from the Vascular Surgery Department at Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s St. ...

Spider veins and varicose veins are common conditions that affect many adults.

These abnormally enlarged blood vessels, which affect women more often than men, appear most often on the legs and become more prevalent with age.

Spider veins and varicose veins affect up to 50% of the adult population.

The following slideshow will highlight the important facts about spider veins and varicose veins, with accompanying pictures to better understand what they look like, what they are, and how to treat them.

What Are Spider ...

The first line of treatment for your varicose veins — those knotty, enlarged, and discolored veins caused by blood pooling in the legs — usually involves lifestyle changes and compression stockings.

But you might need a medical procedure. Your doctor may recommend this if your varicose veins cause:

• Severe pain
• Skin problems
• Blood clots

Some people also choose to have procedures to improve the looks of their legs.

Which Procedure Is Right for Me?

How will you and your doctor decide which procedure is the best choice ...

What Is Varicose Vein Stripping?

Varicose vein stripping is a surgical procedure that removes varicose veins from the legs or thighs. Varicose veins are the puffy and twisted veins that you can see under the skin. They usually have a red or bluish-purple color. Varicose veins most often appear in the legs, but they may also develop in other parts of the body.

Varicose veins form in the legs when the valves in the veins aren’t functioning correctly. Veins normally have one-way ...

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins usually announce themselves as bulging, bluish cords running just beneath the surface of your skin. They almost always affect legs and feet. Visible swollen and twisted veins — sometimes surrounded by patches of flooded capillaries known as spider veins — are considered superficial varicose veins. Although they can be painful and disfiguring, they are usually harmless. When inflamed, they become tender to the touch and can hinder circulation to the point of causing swollen ankles, ...

Spider veins are small, damaged veins that can appear on the surface of the legs or face. They are usually not painful or harmful, but some people may wish to treat them for cosmetic reasons.

Spider veins can be blue, purple, or red and may appear in the form of thin lines, webs, or branches. People sometimes also refer to them as thread veins.

A range of treatments can remove spider veins or reduce their appearance.

In this article, we discuss the causes ...

Though generally harmless, hair-thin blemishes, known as spider veins, can cause some to want to cover up even in the heat. Treating spider veins is rarely a medical necessity (though some seek treatment to relieve the aching the veins can cause), but for those who want it, spider vein-free skin is just a zap away.

No one knows why some people develop spider veins and others don’t, but genetics, the hormone estrogen and possibly the hormone progesterone are thought to play ...

Diagnosis

To diagnose varicose veins, your doctor will do a physical exam, including looking at your legs while you’re standing to check for swelling. Your doctor may also ask you to describe any pain and aching in your legs.

You also may need an ultrasound test to see if the valves in your veins are functioning normally or if there’s any evidence of a blood clot. In this noninvasive test, a technician runs a small hand-held device (transducer), about the size of ...