What are Varicose Veins in the Legs? And Other FAQs About Varicose Veins
What are varicose veins in the legs?
Varicose veins in the legs are dense, bulging blood vessels that protrude from the skin’s surface in a twisted and tangled form. They often look like a dense mass of twisted and tangled ropes that bulge out of the skin’s surface. They can appear anywhere on the body, but they’re most common in the lower extremities, such as the thighs, hips, and legs. Varicose veins are more common in the legs because the veins in the legs must work hard to push blood up to the heart against the force of gravity.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins in the legs?
Varicose veins are bigger, bluer, and bulkier than your average vein. They usually appear in the legs and can cause various symptoms, from mild discomfort to severe pain.
There are a few telltale signs that you might have varicose veins. First, take a look at your legs. Do you see any veins that look swollen or twisted? These are usually the most visible signs of varicose veins. If you look closely, you might also see that the affected veins have a slightly different color than the surrounding tissue. This is because varicose veins contain blood that has pooled and is not flowing properly.
In addition to the physical signs, you might also experience some symptoms related to the varicose veins. These can include achy or heavy-feeling legs, cramping, swelling, itching, and even restless legs. If you have these symptoms, you must schedule an appointment with a board-certified vein doctor who can diagnose the problem. Vein doctors can examine your leg veins, discuss your symptoms, and curate a personalized treatment. Varicose veins can worsen over time, so getting treatment early is important.
What are the two main causes of varicose veins?
The circulatory system is responsible for transporting blood throughout the body. The veins are responsible for carrying blood back to the heart. The valves in the veins prevent the blood from flowing backward. When the valves are not working properly, the blood can flow backward and pool in the veins.
This condition is known as chronic venous insufficiency, and it’s directly responsible for the formation of varicose veins and spider veins. As blood accumulates in the leg veins, the leg veins dilate and expand outwards. Over time, the pressure of excess blood accumulation in the leg veins leads to varicose veins.
Varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the legs. The leg veins must work against gravity to push the blood back to the heart. The valves in the veins can become weak due to the increased pressure, leading to a high risk of varicose veins in the legs.
The two main causes of varicose veins in the legs are gravity and venous insufficiency.
What do varicose veins on black skin look like?
Varicose veins are usually more visible on lighter skin tones, so they may be less visible on dark skin. However, varicose veins can still occur on black skin — they may appear as raised, blue, or purple lines on the skin. If you notice the signs and symptoms of varicose veins, please contact board-certified vein doctors in New York.
What’s the difference between varicose veins and spider veins?
The difference between varicose veins and spider veins is that varicose veins are larger, raised, and twisted, while spider veins are smaller and have a web-like appearance. Both have the same cause, which is weak or damaged valves and walls in the veins. This allows blood to flow backward and pool in the veins, causing them to become enlarged.
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Is walking good for varicose veins?
Walking is a great way to help improve circulation and prevent the formation of varicose veins. When you walk, the muscles in your legs contract and push blood through your veins back up to your heart. This helps prevent blood from pooling in your veins, causing them to bulge and become varicose. Walking also helps to tone and strengthen the muscles in your legs, which can further improve circulation and reduce the risk of varicose veins.
If you already have varicose veins, walking can still help. By improving circulation and preventing blood from pooling in your veins, walking can reduce the pain and swelling associated with varicose veins. Walking can also prevent the progression of varicose veins and the formation of new varicose veins. But walking can’t treat the root cause of varicose veins or remove the existing varicose veins. The only way to treat varicose veins is with minimally invasive varicose vein treatments in New York.
Which specialist treats varicose veins?
Although any doctor can diagnose and treat varicose veins, phlebologists are experts in this field. Phlebologists are medical doctors or surgeons who have completed additional training in venous diseases. Phlebologists, also known as vein doctors or vein specialists, use various methods to diagnose and treat varicose veins, including duplex ultrasound tests, endovenous ablation, sclerotherapy, and other minimally invasive procedures.
Unlike dermatologists and most primary care doctors, phlebologists have the training to diagnose and treat the root cause of varicose veins — not just the symptoms. Most general doctors treat varicose veins as a cosmetic problem — they may remove the visible veins without addressing the root cause. But vein specialists diagnose and treat underlying chronic venous insufficiency before removing varicose veins, thus ensuring long-lasting results.
New York Vein Treatment is a group of state-of-the-art medical centers led by board-certified vein doctors in New York. Our vein doctors always diagnose the root cause of your problems and offer the latest minimally invasive varicose vein treatments. You can find our medical centers for vein treatment in Midtown Manhattan (290 Madison Ave Suite 202 ) or the Financial District (156 William St, 3rd Floor). Please schedule an appointment at your nearest medical center for spider vein treatment in New York.
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Dr.MICHAEL NGUYEN
Veins Specialist NYC
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Dr. JUAN D. MONTOYA
Veins Specialists NYC
Highly sought after for his expertise and excellent outcomes in Vein Treatments in Manhattan.
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Dr. SAREH RAJAEE
Veins Specialists NYC
She has extensive experience with vein performing procedures based on New York City.
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