Your body contains about 60,000 miles of blood vessels, and most of them operate invisibly below the surface of your skin. So, when veins in your legs start to bulge out forming varicose veins, you wonder whether they signal a health problem.
The good news is that most of these veins are harmless, despite their unwelcome aesthetic effect. That said, there are times when varicose veins can become problematic.
To help you better identify whether your varicose veins may be cause for concern, Dr. Madaiah Revana and the team here at Humble Cardiology Associates present the following information.
In the spirit of there being safety in numbers, it may surprise you to know that varicose veins affect up to 35% of the population in the United States, with women outpacing men by about two to one. The primary reason why women are more prone to varicose veins is due to hormone fluctuations.
Other risk factors for varicose veins include heredity, smoking, standing for long periods, and obesity.
The cause of most varicose veins is chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which the veins in your legs aren’t functioning as well as they should, which allows blood to spill backward and engorge your veins, forcing them to the surface of your skin.
Under normal circumstances, the veins in your legs rely on tiny valves that shut as blood passes through to keep it moving upward. If these valves weaken, blood can pool and create varicose veins.
The good news with varicose veins is that, in most cases, they aren’t medically serious, though they can pose cosmetic concerns for many.
There are times, however, when these veins can cause problems and lead to:
This last complication is rare, but worth underscoring. People who have varicose veins have a heightened risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism, which are two serious blood clot issues.
If your varicose veins are causing you problems, we urge you to come see us so that we can find the best treatment option.
The good news is that we offer several minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins, including:
Each of these outpatient treatments is designed to either shut down (or remove) the varicose vein, forcing your blood to find its way through healthier blood vessels.
Whether you want to explore removing your varicose veins for cosmetic reasons or you're concerned they pose a health risk, the first step is to contact one of our two offices in Humble or Houston, Texas, for a full evaluation.
