Your legs are responsible for transporting you to your daily activities all day long, explaining why they might often feel tired at the end of a busy day. As hard as those legs work day in and day out, the veins inside the legs work even harder. All that difficult work makes the vessels in the lower leg prone to damage that can lead to unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins.
Varicose veins are caused by vein damage, or more specifically, damage to the tiny valves found inside the vessels. These valves are responsible for keeping blood in the veins moving in a single direction, back to the heart. Because the vessels in the lower legs have to push against gravity and the body’s own weight to transport blood back to the heart, they are more likely to suffer damage over time.
When the valves inside the veins stop working properly, blood can reflux back into the vessel, rather than continuing to move forward to the heart. This pooling of blood leads to vein stretching and weakening, which in turn leads to swelling and varicosity. The end result is gnarled, bulging veins that protrude above the surface of the skin and cause significant cosmetic embarrassment.
As bad as varicose veins can be, there are additional factors that can make the condition even worse. Weight gain can place additional pressure on the vascular system, while water retention adds to the pressure by increasing blood volume. Even simple daily routines like sitting behind a computer, remaining on your feet for long periods of time, or wearing certain types of clothing can make varicose veins worse.
As the condition grows more severe, varicose veins can become more than a cosmetic problem. These swollen vessels can also lead to the following physical symptoms:
Because varicose veins are often more than a cosmetic problem, the benefits of vein treatment can be far-reaching. In addition to eliminating their bulging appearance, effective treatment can also relieve painful symptoms that accompany varicose veins. Some patients even experience relief from their symptoms as soon as the treatment is over, even though it may take days or even weeks for the treated veins to disappear completely.
In the past, varicose vein treatment meant invasive, painful surgery and an extended recovery period. Today, minimally-invasive treatments using cutting-edge technology like lasers and radiofrequency energy allow for full eradication of the swollen vessels with minimal discomfort and downtime. In fact, some patients are able to return to their daily activities as soon as the procedure is over.
You don’t have to suffer with the appearance or symptoms of varicose veins any longer. At Center for Vein Restoration, we offer a variety of vein treatments that can be tailored to your specific needs.
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