The return of blood from the legs to the heart requires healthy leg veins. Healthy leg veins rely on a system of one-way valves that assist the veins in propelling blood upward to the heart. Unfortunately, aging may cause damage to these valves resulting in backflow of the blood and bulging of the veins due to the increased pressure. The result is varicose veins.
The blood travels from the heart to the various tissues and body organs via the arteries. The arteries become smaller and smaller as they reach their destination. When they arrive at the specific body organ such as the muscle tissue in the legs, for example, they are extremely small and are called capillaries. After oxygen and nutrients are extracted from the blood in the capillaries, the capillaries join back together to form small veins and then, larger veins which travel back to the heart. If there is increased pressure in the veins due to damage of their one-way valves, the backflow pressure may cause the capillaries to “burst.” When capillaries burst, they form what we call spider veins. The name derives from their appearance which resembles that of a spider web. Spider veins can be red, purple or blue.
What should Chicago residents do about unsightly varicose veins and spider veins?
Both varicose veins and spider veins are generally considered unattractive. Much like facial wrinkles, another sign of aging, they have an unpleasant appearance and most persons who have varicose veins or spider veins want to get rid of them. Dr. Ramon Castro, Director of the Chicago Vein Care Center, is a vascular doctor in Chicago who specializes in the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins.
Although varicose veins and spider veins are cosmetically unpleasing, they can also produce serious medical symptoms and complications. If you have varicose veins, you may complain that “My legs hurt.” You may have a sense of heaviness or aching in the legs, cramps and itching. Your may have swollen legs and ankles. The swelling can lead to discoloration of the skin and ulceration. Varicose veins may be tender to touch.
Being overweight can predispose you to developing varicose veins and spider veins. Other risk factors include heredity, sex (women are more prone to vein disease than men), prolonged sitting or standing and a sedentary lifestyle.
What can you do about varicose veins and spider veins?
Dr. Castro is likely to recommend conservative treatment first including exercise, lifestyle and diet changes and the use of compression stockings. If these measures are inadequate in controlling your symptoms, sclerotherapy can be used to eradicate both varicose veins and spiderveins. With sclerotherapy, a tiny needle is used to inject the veins with a chemical irritant, or sclerosant, that irritates the lining of the vein. In response, the veins collapse, seal shut, and are reabsorbed by the body. Dr. Castro is a laser expert. An alternative to sclerotherapy is the use of endovenous laser therapy (EVLT treatment). This is where a small catheter is inserted into the diseased vein, and thermal energy (heat) is delivered inside the vein. This causes the vein to collapse and seal shut. Blood is rerouted to healthier veins.
These procedures do not require general anesthesia and are performed in the comfort and privacy of the Chicago Vein Care Center on an outpatient basis. You will be able to go home the same day. Both Dr. Castro is a vein specialist in Chicago with many years of experience in veindisease treatment. They understand how stressful it can be to deal with vein disorders. From the moment you enter their facility, they will make you feel “at home” and confident in your recovery. Do not suffer the embarrassment or other painful symptoms of varicose veins and spider veins any longer. Call for your appointment today!