Vein Problems—Your Questions Answered

A lot of us have heard about vein problems before, but may be confused about what they are, when to seek treatment, and how dangerous they can be. To help clear up the confusion, we asked leading specialists at USA Vein Clinics to answer some of our questions.

Q. What is venous insufficiency? Can it be dangerous?

A. Venous insufficiency is when your leg veins cannot pump enough blood back to your heart. Veins in the lower parts of your legs are usually affected. Early detection is a challenge—quite often it takes years for this disease to show its ugly face, and by that time it could be very dangerous. Complications can include deep vein thrombosis, bleeding, and phlebitis, but some patients can also get ulcers, serious inflammations and even cancer.

Q. We’ve heard vein stripping is a common treatment. Is that performed in your office?

A. Stripping is commonly performed on superficial veins. The doctor makes a small incision in the groin area, and usually another one in the calf, then disconnects and ties off all veins associated with the saphenous vein—the main superficial vein in your leg. But since the laser intravenous treatment was introduced, stripping is no longer the best choice. Laser treatment is 100% effective and does not require surgery.

Q. Spider veins are notorious for looking unattractive and stubbornly resisting treatment. What is your approach to spider veins?

A. Spider veins appear alongside with vein insufficiency, so they are, so to speak, “allies” of the veins affected by the disease. To get rid of them, doctors need to find and treat the main source of the problem—the malfunctioning vein. If it’s treated properly, spider veins disappear, never to come back.

Q. Physical exercises—are they good or bad for your veins?

A. Moderate physical activity is great for your veins! There are no specific types of exercises that target the venous system, but walking, cycling, jogging, swimming, and most any other aerobic activity is very beneficial. Those who have already been diagnosed with poor veins should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise, but can still benefit from regular walking.

Q. What about crossing your legs while sitting, bright sun exposure, or wearing high heels? Will any of these things cause vein disease?

A. None of these factors contribute to vein insufficiency development. But when you already have vein problems, it’s more challenging (and often painful) to wear high heels, and crossing your legs can become uncomfortable. As for sunlight, only after certain procedures like sclerotherapy do people need to avoid sun exposure to prevent possible skin pigmentation.

Q. What is sclerotherapy?

A. Sclerotherapy is an injection therapy that fixes small veins. The doctor introduces various liquids into the vein to either fix or completely eliminate it. This procedure is helpful only when the main vein problem is treated. Improperly done, sclerotherapy could even lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a very serious disease.

Q. Tell us more about DVT.

A. DVT can be very serious. Illness, injury, vessel damage, and inactivity can all slow blood circulation, causing blood to “pool.” This stagnating blood creates an ideal environment for a clot to form. Without proper and timely treatment, DVT can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications. Fortunately, with increased awareness of symptoms and patient risk factors, DVT can be diagnosed early and treated successfully.

Q. For a patient with any of these vein issues, what is the best course of action?

A. The best and shortest way to an effective treatment is to get an accurate and timely diagnosis. USA Vein Clinics is well known and highly recommended in New York, Chicago, Boston and now, in Los Angeles. We perform all the tests you need for correct diagnosis, and then we custom create your treatment to fit your needs. There’s no reason to put off consultation—if you’re having pain or discomfort in your legs, or know you have vein problems, put your faith into the hands of the professionals at USA Vein Clinics.