Varicose Vein Treatment Options and Information

Varicose veins can be painful and uncomfortable. They also are not very pretty to look at. But, what exactly are varicose veins? And, what do you need to know about varicose vein treatment?

What are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are most often found in the legs and ankles. They are caused by valves that have grown weaker in the legs. The veins in the legs need to work against gravity to push the blood up to the heart. Inside the veins are valves that prevent the blood from pooling and keep things moving up like they should. If the valves become weakened, it results in the blood collecting inside the vein and building up the pressure, causing the vein to become enlarged and painful. Varicose veins are thought to be hereditary; however, there are other factors that may contribute to someone developing them. If a person is overweight, they are more susceptible to varicose veins because of the additional stress on veins due to the excess weight. Veins that have already been compromised as a result of obesity are more likely to develop into varicose veins. Varicose veins also occur in people who do a lot of standing, and in pregnant women who have added weight on their legs due to the pregnancy.

So, now that we know what varicose veins are, let’s find out about our choices in varicose vein treatment.

Varicose Vein Treatment Options

There are several varicose vein treatment options for people who are suffering from varicose veins. The type of treatment plan that you choose will be based on how severe the varicose veins are, and if you have other health problems in addition to the varicose veins. Before deciding on a varicose vein treatment, your doctor will need to examine your legs and feet to make sure you do not have thrombosis in addition to varicose veins. If your varicose veins are not causing you any discomfort or pain, here are a few things you can do to keep them from becoming worse.

• Elevate your legs as much as possible to help with blood flow
• Wear compression socks and wear comfortable shoes
• Exercise daily
• Do not stand or sit for extended periods of time.

Varicose Vein Treatment for Advanced Cases

If a more proactive and aggressive varicose vein treatment is needed, there are a few methods to choose from. One of the most popular treatments for dealing with unsightly varicose veins is laser method, which is used to close off the offending vein. Laser treatment can be done on small spider veins that are close to the surface of the skin, and they should only be done by experienced professionals.

Learn more about the services we offer by calling our North Center location at 773-231-9884 or our Downtown Chicago location at 312-234-0750