About one-quarter of adults in the United States have varicose veins. If you’re in that group, you may wonder what caused the unsightly purplish lines that stretch down your legs. Is there an effective treatment? The answer is yes.
Our board-certified radiologists at REDI Diagnostics Corp in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, treat varicose veins effectively, eliminating them and restoring the beauty of your skin.
In many cases, varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic concern. Varicose veins that cause symptoms can signal more serious — and sometimes even life‑threatening — vein disease.
Your heart constantly pumps blood through your veins, sending nutrients and oxygen to your cells and keeping them healthy. Your veins contain valves that open and close as they pump blood through your body and up to your heart.
Sometimes the valves stop operating properly. When these valves don’t fully open or close, blood begins to back up. The increased pressure weakens the vein walls, leading to the bulging, twisted appearance of varicose veins.
If your varicose veins don’t bother you, they’re likely only a cosmetic concern. However, varicose veins can worsen over time, leading to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
If you have CVI, your vein valve fails. Blood not only pools in your leg but also flows backward. As excess blood builds up, pressure stretches the vein, weakening the wall and causing it to bulge into a raised blue or purple line along your leg.
If your varicose veins cause physical symptoms, you should make an appointment for a vein evaluation. The following are symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.
If you have varicose veins, do your legs throb or ache after you’ve been standing or sitting for a long time? Perhaps you’re a doctor or nurse, a teacher or a warehouse worker, or in another occupation that requires you to stand most of the day. You’re at increased risk of varicose veins.
If you stand most of the day or, conversely, if you’re too sedentary, and you have varicose veins, your legs likely ache by the end of the day.
Obesity is another major risk factor for varicose veins. The extra pounds place undue pressure on your veins, leading to a valve and vein wall breakdown. Don’t ignore leg pain when you have varicose veins. Seek medical treatment.
Your legs may swell by the day’s end if you have varicose veins. Your blood pools in your lower legs when your vein valves are damaged. Fluid engorges your soft tissue. Don’t let chronic venous insufficiency progress further. Your varicose veins need treatment.
CVI can cause your skin to become inflamed and discolored. This is a sign of severe chronic venous insufficiency. Your skin may start to break down, resulting in a venous ulcer, an open sore on your skin. It’s painful, hard to heal, and may lead to chronic cellulitis if not treated promptly.
A blood clot, or deep vein thrombosis, is life-threatening. The clot could move to your heart or lungs, causing an embolism. Avoid this danger by eliminating problematic varicose veins.
Your REDI Diagnostics Corp radiologist lets you know what treatment is the most effective for your varicose veins. We select endovenous ablation (EVLA), sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, or Varithena™ based on the condition of your vein, its size, and location.
Call REDI Diagnostics Corp at 201-773-4255 or book an appointment online today to discuss treatment options for your troublesome varicose veins.
