Summer is here, say goodbye to varicose veins!
Collin County LIVING WELL Magazie
Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are dependent areas like legs and feet where pressure increases with standing and walking.
Varicose veins initially appear as small spider veins which are simply a cosmetic concern. Over time, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Varicose veins may also signal a higher risk of other circulatory problems.
Signs and Symptoms
- Veins that are dark purple or blue
- An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
- Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs
- Itching around one or more of your veins
- Skin ulcers near your ankle, which could indicate vascular disease which requires medical attention
Risk Factors
- Age. The risk of varicose veins increases with age. Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in your veins that help regulate blood flow.
- Sex. Women are more likely to develop the condition. Taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills may increase your risk of varicose veins.
- Family history. If other family members had varicose veins, there’s a greater chance you will too.
- Obesity. Being overweight puts added pressure on your veins.
- Standing or sitting for long periods of time.
Complications
- Ulcers
- Blood Clots
Treatment Options
- Self-care such as exercising, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting — can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting worse. Wearing compression stockings is often the first approach to try before moving on to other treatments.
- Sclerotherapy is a spider vein removal technique that uses a chemical injection, such as a saline or a detergent solution to close off small spider veins. Sclerotherapy is the most popular method of spider vein removal for good reason. Sclerotherapy is more effective and less expensive than lasers (for spider veins, not varicose veins).
- Phlebectomy Occasionally, varicose veins near the surface of the skin are too large to treat with sclerotherapy (which may cause brown pigment spots with larger veins close to the skin surface) and are too small to treat with radiofrequency ablation. In these cases, microphlebectomy, also referred to as an ambulatory phlebectomy, is sometimes recommended to treat and remove unsightly or painful leg veins close to the skin’s surface. The vein removal procedure is performed under local anesthesia and the small incisions leave virtually no scars.
- Venefit Procedure The Venefit procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. Using ultrasound guidance, the physician will position a catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. The slender catheter delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the tip of the catheter, which heats the vein wall. Following the procedure, a simple bandage is placed over the insertion site, and additional compression may be provided to aid healing. You will be encouraged to walk at frequent intervals and to refrain from prolonged standing and strenuous activities for a period of time. Patients who undergo the Venefit procedure typically resume normal activities within a day.
Vein Clinic of Texas
At the Vein Clinic of Texas, we are specialists in leg vein treatments. We use the latest technology in varicose and spider vein treatments and all of our varicose vein procedures are guided by our certified vascular ultrasound technician, ensuring your vein treatment will be safe and effective.
Our Staff
M. Akram Khan, MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI Dr. Khan has been practicing cardiovascular medicine in McKinney, Texas since 1997. He completed his cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. He is board certified in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology and is certified by The American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.
Ambreen Ashfaque, MD Dr. Ashfaque came on board with the Vein Clinic of Texas in December 2010 but has been around the clinic since 2003. She is a graduate of Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. She then did her internship and residency at UT Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Ashfaque recently became certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.
FREE Screening
We offer complimentary screenings as a convenience to help you gain basic vein information and receive recommendations for management of your veins.
To schedule your FREE varicose vein screening or medical consultation, call us at
972-600-2881
or request an appointment on our website at
www.VeinClinicOfTexas.com
4201 Medical Center Drive, Suite 380, McKinney, TX 75069
(located inside the Cardiac Center of Texas)
