What Are Varicose Veins? Everything You Need to Know About Varicose Veins

The root cause of varicose veins is a condition called venous insufficiency. This is when the valves in your veins stop working properly and allow blood to pool in your legs. The vein valves are responsible for keeping blood flowing in the right direction, but if they are damaged, blood can flow backward because of gravity and pool in the veins. This can cause the veins to become enlarged. Venous insufficiency is a chronic condition that worsens over time.

Numerous factors can contribute to venous insufficiency, including:

• Age
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Sitting or standing for long periods
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of venous insufficiency or varicose veins

If you have varicose veins, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Aching or throbbing pain in your legs
• Itching around one or more of your veins
• Burning or tingling sensations in your legs
• Heavy or tired feeling in your legs
• Swelling in your legs
• Muscle cramps in your legs
• Restless legs
• Skin ulcers or open sores on your legs

If you have varicose veins, you may be wondering which specialist you should see. The answer is a phlebologist. Phlebologists are experts in treating venous disorders, such as varicose veins, spider veins, and venous ulcers. They use a variety of treatments, including sclerotherapy, laser ablation, and venaseal, to treat the root cause of varicose veins and remove the superficial veins. If you have the signs and symptoms of vein disease or varicose veins, please schedule an appointment with your nearest vein doctor in New Jersey.

Varicose veins are most often diagnosed during a physical examination. Your doctor may look for bulging, twisted veins, particularly in your legs. Varicose veins are most commonly seen in the leg and are described as tortuous, dilated superficial veins. These veins are visualized through the overlying skin and appear bluish in color. Varicose veins may be asymptomatic or present various symptoms, including heaviness, aching, fatigue, burning, itching, restless legs, and cramps. In more severe cases, varicose veins may lead to ulceration, bleeding, and thrombophlebitis.

The most important factor in diagnosing varicose veins is the clinical history and physical examination. A careful history should focus on the onset and character of symptoms, any precipitating or relieving factors, and any associated conditions. The physical examination should assess for the presence and distribution of varicose veins and any evidence of skin changes or ulceration. To check for more serious problems, your doctor may also order an ultrasound to determine whether your valves are functioning properly.

Doppler ultrasound is the most commonly used imaging modality and can assess for the presence of venous reflux, which is the main underlying cause of varicose veins. After a thorough diagnosis and evaluation, the vein doctor will curate a treatment plan, which may include compression stockings, exercise, and minimally invasive treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation, venaseal, ambulatory phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy.

New Jersey Vein Treatment is a group of state-of-the-art medical centers for vein treatment specializing in the latest minimally invasive treatments. Our vein doctors diagnose and treat the root cause of your vein problems to ensure safe and consistent results without downtime. You can find our board-certified vein doctors in Paramus, Clifton, or Woodland Park. Please schedule an appointment at your nearest medical center for vein treatment in New Jersey.