When and How Should I Get My Varicose Veins Treated?
Are you wondering whether your varicose veins require treatment? Or are you eager for treatment but unsure which method to pursue? Click HERE to meet with Harvard-trained vein doctors in New York for answers to your questions. Some varicose veins are asymptomatic and non-problematic. Others can cause a range of issues including leg swelling, heaviness, cramping, itching, restlessness, profuse bleeding, venous ulcerations, hyperpigmentation, and more.
Only a vein doctor can determine whether your varicose veins pose a threat to your health, since the problem often begins deeper in a saphenous vein than the damage you see at the surface. Many patients also choose to treat varicose veins for cosmetic reasons, even if treatment isn’t a medical necessity. We offer a range of minimally invasive vein treatments that are covered by insurance, including sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, laser treatment, and vein adhesives. The right method depends on your unique vasculature and symptoms. Talk to our caring team about your options. The sooner you treat your varicose veins, the better the outcome!
What Happens If Varicose Veins Are Left Untreated?
Untreated varicose veins have several potential complications which include frustrating symptoms like leg pain, swelling, cramping, heaviness, and restlessness, along with more severe complications like venous ulcerations, bleeding that’s hard to control, and permanent discoloration of the skin. Varicose veins often stem from a venous disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency, wherein a faulty valve in a deeper vein allows blood to pool and regress, creating the pressure-induced varicosity. Left untreated, it’s not just the varicose vein that can progressively worsen, but also the vein disease. This can result in additional spider veins and varicose veins, plus life threatening problems like blood clots or deep vein thrombosis.
Some patients delay varicose veins treatment because they fear a painful surgery, lengthy recovery, or costly medical bill. However, treatment for varicose veins has seen tremendous advances in the past few decades, and surgery is rarely required. Conservative treatments have replaced surgery as the first line of treatment, which means long recoveries are also a thing of the past. If surgery is necessary, most patients are eligible for a newer, less invasive method, called ambulatory phlebectomy, which involves no hospitalization or general anesthesia. Don’t wait to see if your varicose veins worsen. Our award-winning NY vein doctors can treat them gently within minutes!
Should I Try Homeopathy for Varicose Veins in Legs?
Some patients inquire about homeopathy for varicose veins, and our advice is always to speak with us first. The vascular system involves nearly 60,000 miles of blood vessels, including arteries, capillaries, and veins, which work together to deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout your body. No two people have the same venous anatomy, and no two people respond exactly the same to certain treatments. Trying things that are not tested or approved by the FDA is not only likely to fail, it’s also possible to cause harm.
As mentioned, surface vein damage often stems from issues deeper in the veins, and could involve things like blood clots, weakened vein walls, and broken venous valves. Even trying compression stockings or support hose requires a doctor’s input for proper sizing and the right amount of compression. Treating your circulatory system is not a DIY project. Talk to our vein experts about things you can try at home to reduce symptoms before attempting to treat veins on your own.
Do Varicose Veins Cause High Blood Pressure Over Time?
High blood pressure typically refers to elevated pressure within the arteries, not the veins. Veins pump blood up to the heart, resisting gravity along the way, so they are lined with valves that close once blood passes through, to prevent it from flowing backward. If a valve fails in a vein, blood pools and regresses, elevating pressure inside the vein, which creates spider veins and varicose veins. Conversely, arteries pump blood down and away from the heart. These are larger blood vessels carrying blood propelled by the powerful heart muscle, so they don’t require valves to complete their task.
When pressure is elevated in arteries, it is not the result of valve failure, but issues like obesity, smoking, aging, drugs and alcohol, excess sodium, and a sedentary lifestyle. Varicose veins are the result of excess pressure in a vein, not the cause of high blood pressure in an artery. However, since veins and arteries work together, and lifestyle factors like those listed above influence both varicose veins and high blood pressure, the two issues are often correlated.
Does High Blood Pressure Cause Varicose Veins if Untreated?
High blood pressure doesn’t directly cause varicose veins, since it’s an issue within the arteries, not the veins. However, arteries transfer blood to the veins via the capillaries, so a backup of blood in an artery can impact movement through the vein. While high blood pressure and varicose veins are two different issues, it’s common to develop both, and new research suggests they might be closely linked.
The best way to avoid either problem is to maintain a healthy weight, remain active, and eat a healthful diet that limits sodium and the consumption of alcohol, nicotine products, and certain drugs. Both varicose veins and high blood pressure run in families, so visit our caring team if you’re concerned about developing either one.
What’s the Best Vein Center in NY for High Blood Pressure?
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure and also have varicose veins or spider veins, be sure to choose a vein clinic in New York that’s run by board certified vein doctors. Some vein clinics are staffed by dermatologists or estheticians who aren’t trained in arterial or venous diseases and don’t have the diagnostic devices to investigate deeper blood vessels.
Our exceptional team uses Duplex ultrasound and special tools to examine all of your venous pathways and isolate any problems. Our vein doctors studied vasculature in-depth and are able to treat varicose veins and venous diseases safely, regardless of any comorbidities in your arteries. Don’t take risks with your circulatory system. Choose our qualified team of experts.
What’s the Best Clinic for Varicose Veins Plus Chest Veins?
If you have bulging leg veins plus spider veins, chest veins, or any other concerning vein issues, choose our fully accredited vein clinics in Manhattan and Long Island. Our caring team can determine whether veins require treatment and which treatment method is best. Some veins increase in size temporarily, such as during pregnancy or after exertion or exposure to high temperatures or stress. Others are permanently enlarged and tortuous due to valve failure or venous disease. If you choose a vein clinic that’s not trained in venous medicine, you risk ineffective or unnecessarily invasive treatment. Choose our renowned NY vein clinics for flawless veins plus the peace of mind you deserve.
Which Vein Treatment Clinic Treats a Vein Plus Vein Disease?
Our vein treatment clinic was named a Center of Excellence for our proven track record and exceptional breadth of vein treatments. We don’t just relieve the visible and uncomfortable symptoms of varicose veins. We also treat the underlying venous disease, to prevent more varicose veins from forming. Best of all, we treat varicose veins and vein disease with minimally invasive, conservative treatments that are performed in our vein clinic in under 30 minutes! Our innovative devices identify and treat issues simultaneously, so you can minimize time in the vein clinic and get right back to your usual routine!
What is the Best Treatment for Varicose Veins for Me?
So, what is the best treatment for varicose veins for you? It’s the most conservative treatment that will work for your specific condition. In most cases, this will be sclerotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, laser treatment, or vein adhesives. Each of these closes off malfunctioning veins with tiny fibers, catheters, or needles inserted in the skin, using either laser energy, radiofrequency, medical glue, or sclerosing solutions.
If you need surgery, most patients do well with ambulatory phlebectomy, which is less invasive, painful, and time-consuming than traditional vein stripping surgery. Our NY vein doctors customize varicose vein treatments and involve each patient in the decision, so you can choose what appeals to you. Book your consultation today and prepare to be pleasantly surprised by how easy varicose vein treatment is with our vein specialists in New York!