As many as 35% of American adults have varicose veins – purple, bulging blood vessels that detract from aesthetically pleasing skin and may create dangerous complications. If you see these unsightly veins on your legs, seek treatment from an interventional cardiologist in Boca Raton, FL.
Here’s what to know about their innovative and effective vascular services.
How Do Varicose Veins Develop, And What Are Their Symptoms?
Varicose veins, and smaller spider veins, develop due to poor circulation. The tiny, one-way valves in these veins function poorly, allowing backflow of blood into the extremities and other spaces–most of them below the level of the heart.
As a result, veins bulge to the skin surface and become twisted in appearance. The skin around these red or purple veins can become rough, itchy, and discolored. Legs may feel heavy and painful, and in general, patients experience fatigue upon exertion. When varicosities occur on exposed areas of the body–such as the face and legs–they can be embarrassing, causing people to want to cover up their skin.
However, beyond the aesthetic problems, varicose veins can worsen. Leg ulcers and infection may result from the excess fluid that accumulates in the lower extremities.
However, the most serious complication is deep vein thrombosis or DVT. With this condition, blood clots form in deeper leg veins. They can loosen from their site of origin and travel to the lungs, threatening health and life.
How Are Varicose Veins Diagnosed And Treated?
At your vein clinic in Boca Raton, FL, your interventional cardiologist will review your symptoms, inspect your areas of concern, and perform sophisticated ultrasound mapping of your blood vessels. Venous ultrasound testing sends sound waves into the lower extremities, producing clear images of veins and showing how blood flows through them.
With the findings, your vein doctor may propose several kinds of treatments. For many people, simply losing weight, being physically active, and wearing compression wear (stockings and socks) alleviates mild symptoms. However, other people need greater interventions as outlined below.
Endovenous Laser Therapy
Also known as EVLT, endovenous laser therapy is an in-office procedure that uses focused laser light to heat and close off medium to large varicose veins. The blood in the treated vessels is deflected to other blood vessels, and the varicosities shrink in size and appearance.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Via a small catheter inserted into the varicose vein, the vein specialist heats the vein with radio waves. As with EVLT, the treated vein contracts and is sealed off. Other veins receive the blood, and the poor appearance, pain, and other symptoms resolve.
Sclerotherapy
Most appropriate for tiny spider veins and small varicosities, sclerotherapy literally erases the obvious cosmetic problems many vein patients experiences. The vein specialist injects a chemical into the vein, which irritates and closes the vein. Treated veins are absorbed by the body eventually.
Iliac Vein Stenting
This procedure installs a stent into the iliac vein in the left leg to counter the dangerous impact of May-Thurner syndrome. With this serious health problem, patients experience painful varicosities, as the iliac vein is compressed by the nearby iliac artery. Vein stenting avoids blood clots in the left leg and the complications that may develop.
Vein Clinic in Boca Raton, FL
Your vein health is very important. At Advanced Heart & Vascular Institute, our interventional cardiologists – Dr. Eli Levine and Dr. Michael Schechter – deliver patient education and state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatments to keep veins healthy and functional.
If you’re wondering about varicose veins, please come in for a consultation. You may reach us at (561) 235-5621, or request an appointment with us online. We hope to hear from you soon!
