Spider Veins - The Vein Company

Spider Veins: Understanding the Health Risks and Treatment Options Beyond Cosmetic Concerns

Posted on February 8, 2023July 12, 2024 by The Vein Company

Spider Veins are a type of vein condition that is very often related to women. Many women will forego treatment because they assume if it’s not a problem, it doesn’t matter how it looks. So in their minds, the best “treatment” is to not look at them or cover them. However, this isn’t a matter that only affects women or something that is merely an aesthetic concern. When not treated, they can become a more significant issue, putting your health and comfort at risk.

So, you might wonder, how do I know when to get rid of spider veins? Is every vein I can see a spider vein? Is there a cure for spider veins?

Let us inform you a little more about them!

What are spider veins, and how to recognize them?

Spider veins are a mild form of varicose veins that appear as thin red or blue lines, typically on the legs, and they occur when the valves within the veins stop working correctly. These thin lines often form a web-like network, hence the name. Spider veins show through the skin, but they do not cause the skin to bulge out as varicose veins do.

The exact cause is unknown. Still, doctors suspect heredity, pregnancy, trauma, aging, hormones, standing up for a prolonged period, and even sun damage are factors that can play a role.

Signs and symptoms of pain may include the following:

Feeling pain or heaviness in the legs.
Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping, and swelling in the lower extremities.
Worsening pain after sitting or standing for a long time.
Itching around one or more veins.

Spider veins usually carry fewer health risks than varicose veins. In some cases, however, they can lead to more severe problems such as swelling, constant pain, changes in skin color, clotting, and ulcers. Less commonly, spider veins may signify blood pooling in deeper parts of the body.

Is there a natural remedy for spider veins?

Suppose you are unbothered by your spider veins, which are not painful enough to reach a doctor. In that case, you can do some simple activities at home or work to improve blood circulation in your legs and incorporate easy spider vein therapy into your daily routine.

Get regular physical activity. Leg muscles help the veins return blood to the heart against the force of gravity. Any exercise that works the leg muscles will help prevent the development of new ones.
Keep your weight in check, as the extra weight makes it more difficult for your veins to return blood to the heart against the force of gravity.
Don’t sit or stand for long periods. If you have to stand or sit at work or home for long, take a break every 30 minutes to stand up and walk around. Regular movement causes your leg muscles to carry blood back to your heart more than when sitting or standing still.
Wear compression stockings. Compression stockings help increase blood flow in your legs and can become the best light therapy for spider veins.
Put your feet up. Elevating your feet while sitting returns blood to your heart effectively.

Don’t forget that the best way to get rid of spider veins is with the help of a professional.

When to see a doctor?

If your spider veins cause pain or discomfort or turn into varicose veins, it is vital to see a doctor. A healthcare professional can help you determine the best treatment for your spider veins and prevent potential health risks.

What can happen if spider veins go untreated?

Most spider veins do not cause significant health problems, but large ones can cause throbbing pain and discomfort, especially after prolonged sitting or standing.

Sometimes they can trigger more severe health problems, such as:

Skin wounds or ulcers caused by the long-term pooling of blood in the veins; are painful and difficult to heal. The skin over varicose veins can become thinner and bruise easily. Any injury to the vein can cause bleeding.
Blood clots formed in the veins just below the surface. These blood clots can cause skin redness, a warm, soft, firm vein, pain, and swelling.
Blood clots in the veins deeper under the skin. Blood clots can cause pain, swelling, warmth, and a “pulling” sensation in the calf.

Although spider veins are mainly a cosmetic concern and may not be an urgent health issue, we encourage you to watch it closely for any signs of evolution into a more severe problem.

At The Vein Company, we specialize in varicose and spider vein treatment. Our team of professionals specializes in helping you achieve the best possible results. If you’re interested in a varicose or spider vein treatment, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us. We’ll gladly help and guide you with everything you need.

Do Laser Treatments for Spider & Varicose Veins Hurt?

Posted on March 26, 2021July 15, 2024 by The Vein Company

Varicose and spider veins occur when your veins stop functioning as they should. In a normal vein, blood flows in one direction with the support of a one-way valve and the surrounding muscles. When these valves fail, blood can flow backward or pool within the vein. Spider veins are a milder form and tend to be closer to the surface of the skin, often looking like a spider web. Varicose veins are larger veins and tend to rise above the skin, often looking like twisted cords in the legs. One of the most common treatments for varicose and spider veins is endovenous thermal ablation or laser treatment. A big question people want to know is, does this treatment hurt? The good news is, thanks to many advances, this treatment method results in less pain and quicker recovery time than other treatment options, such as vein stripping.

Laser Treatment Preparation May Cause Discomfort

Laser treatment for varicose or spider veins occurs with a laser that is inside the vein. To do this, your provider places a catheter inside the vein to thread the laser in. The procedure typically begins with a topical numbing agent before injections of numbing medicine are placed throughout the length of the vein being treated. During these injections, you may experience mild pain or discomfort, similar to a mosquito bite. This part of the procedure is usually the most uncomfortable.

You Likely Won’t Feel the Laser

After all the numbing injections, your provider will make a small incision to insert the catheter. The catheter is then guided into the vein. Once in place, the laser is inserted through the catheter and the catheter is removed. At this point, the laser begins heating and treating your varicose or spider vein. Thanks to the numbing medications, you will likely not feel this part at all.

Numbing medications help to keep your varicose vein laser treatment from hurting or causing discomfort.

After Your Laser Therapy Treatment

After your treatment, you will likely be asked to wear compression stockings. This helps to reduce any bruising, tenderness, discomfort, and the risk of blood clots. But, other than some new socks, you will be able to return to your normal activities the following day. If spider or varicose veins are causing you problems, contact The Vein Company in Tennessee today for more information on your treatment options.

3 Exercises to Help Ease & Prevent Varicose Veins

Posted on March 26, 2021July 15, 2024 by The Vein Company

With people working more hours and having busy lifestyles, regular exercise to prevent varicose veins is not always at the top of everyone’s list. Unfortunately, in addition to contributing to rising rates of obesity, this lack of exercise can also contribute to varicose veins. The good news is that adding as little as 30 minutes of exercise a day can help you prevent varicose veins and reduce your risk of developing vein problems, as well as help ease the symptoms if you already have them. While 30 minutes a day is recommended, you don’t have to set aside that time in one block of your day. Instead, you can break up the day into three 10-minute sets, making it easier to get in the exercise your legs need to be in their best shape. Here are three exercise examples that are a great place to start and are easy to work into your daily routine.

1. Walking Can Really Make a Difference

Walking is a great exercise that requires no special equipment or a trip to the gym. Regular walks, such as around your neighborhood, can help you lose weight, maintain healthy blood pressure and help to strengthen muscles and bones. In addition, walking is very effective for varicose veins. And it doesn’t need to be a long walk. For varicose vein health, short five-minute walks throughout the day can be more effective than a single, 30-minute walk. So, instead of hunting for the closest parking spot to the store, park a little farther and take a little stroll. Your legs will thank you for it. If you can’t get outside for a walk, consider walking in place while watching your favorite television show instead.

2. Calf Flexors You Can Do Anywhere

If you spend a lot of your day sitting at a desk or have a long commute, chances are your calves need some strengthening. Tightening your calf muscles can make a big difference when it comes to varicose veins. Simple calf flexor exercises can be done anywhere, including while you stand in line for your morning latte. Simply stand with your feet flat on the floor. Raise your toes up and feel the stretch in your calves. Slowly lower your toes to the flat position and then raise your heels, feeling another stretch in the calf muscles. Repeat these motions for 30 seconds to a minute and your calves will thank you.

3. Simple Stretching, Such as Leg Lifts

Simple stretching exercises are great to help stabilize the muscles in the body and help build core strength. Regular stretching can also help increase blood circulation as well as strengthen the muscles that support your veins, reducing the risk of varicose veins. Leg lifts are simple exercises that you can do at home to help strengthen your leg muscles. While lying flat on your back, slowly lift up one leg at a time and hold it up for a few seconds before slowly lowering it back to the ground. Repeat this with the other leg. If getting down to the ground is difficult, leg lifts can also be done in a standing position. Simply raise one leg at a time out in front of you or out to the side. Hold in position for a few seconds before returning to a standing position. By adding just 30 minutes of exercise a day, you can help boost your circulation and strengthen the muscles that support good vein health. This can help reduce the risk of developing varicose veins or help reduce the need for varicose vein treatment.

3 Easy Tricks to Help Prevent Varicose Veins

Posted on March 26, 2021September 18, 2024 by The Vein Company

We are excited to talk to you about 3 easy tricks to help prevent varicose veins

Varicose veins are those bulging, bluish cords that you can see just under the surface of the skin. Typically, they can be found on the legs and cause more than 30 million Americans to hide behind long pants each summer.

Varicose veins are the result of dysfunctional valves inside the vein that allow blood to pool and flow backward, expanding the vein. While varicose veins are usually painless, they can be painful and, if left untreated, can progress to a disease called Chronic Venous Insufficiency. While you can’t control risk factors like age and genetics, there are some things you can to help prevent varicose vein problems from developing or getting worse.

Get Moving

When it comes to your risk of varicose veins, gravity is not your friend. Standing or sitting for prolonged periods can make it harder for blood to travel in your legs as it fights against gravity. Maybe you notice swelling in your ankles or calves at the end of the day? Getting up and moving, even if it is a short walk around the living room, gets your blood circulating. Elevating your feet above your heart at least three times a day helps reduce the force of gravity and makes it easier for the blood to flow.

Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

While you can’t change risk factors like your age or traits passed down from your mom, you can make an active choice to live a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercising helps to keep your muscles toned, your weight under control, and your blood flowing properly. Excess weight can cause pressure to build-up on the veins and restrict blood flow. Smoking, as well as alcohol use, is likely to increase your risk of developing varicose veins.

Watch What You Wear

What you wear on a regular basis can increase your risk of developing varicose veins. Instead of fancy high-heeled shoes, reach for flats. These shows help work the calf muscles more, help increase muscle tone, and are better for circulation.

Keep the clothes you wear around your waist, groin, and legs as loose as possible. Tight clothes in these areas can restrict your blood flow and increase your risk of developing or worsening varicose veins.

What Varicose Veins Say About Your Legs

Posted on March 26, 2021July 13, 2023 by The Vein Company

While the presence of varicose veins may not necessarily be an indicator of other more serious medical issues, the indirect connection should not be overlooked.

It is commonly understood that varicose veins are unsightly and can be uncomfortable. They also may be linked to hypertension and heart disease in extreme conditions. However, in most cases, they are not directly linked to other serious health issues.

Varicose Veins May Indicate Other Health Problems

However, the presence of varicose veins may be an indirect indicator of other health problems.

It can sometimes occur or worsen due to health issues such as weight, inactivity, and smoking. If you are experiencing problems with them, it could be an indication that you have other more serious health issues that need to be addressed.

Some patients find that by losing weight they are able to reduce the problems they experience with varicose veins. But for patients with a weight problem, losing weight is also beneficial for a myriad of health reasons.

They are also often tied to inactivity – long days sitting at a desk or standing in one place can both be contributing factors. Just as losing weight can be beneficial and for other health issues also, implementing active daily routines can do wonders for a person’s overall health.

An Indirect Correlation

Not enough research has been done to point to varicose veins as a harbinger of other health issues, but there is certainly an indirect correlation between other health issues that are common among patients who also have trouble with varicose veins. But some techniques have evolved in the elimination of varicose veins.

See a Medical Professional

It is always a good idea for anyone who is suffering from varicose veins to seek a professional medical opinion – whether the varicose veins are just unsightly or severe enough that they are causing pain. So contact us today a medical professional can not only advise patients as to treatments for the varicose veins themselves but can also give patients information about other health risks that may be indirectly linked to varicose veins.

How A Standing Desk Can Save You From Spider Veins

Posted on March 26, 2021July 24, 2023 by The Vein Company

With recent health studies finding concerns over excessive time sitting in a car or at a desk, standing desks have become a new trend in many workplaces.

Recent studies have linked too much time in a chair with everything from coronary disease to liver disease, and health experts are in agreement that too much sitting is not healthy.

But too much standing might also be a problem.

Finding a Balance Between Ecessive Sitting and Excessive Standing

Excessive periods of standing have long been known to be a contributing factor to the severity of varicose veins.

So how is a person supposed to deal with studies that show sitting is bad for your health in some areas while standing might cause its own share of health troubles?

Find a Good Balance

As with many health-related issues, the key is in avoiding the excessive and striking a good balance.

Stand-up desks are great for a lot of reasons, but standing all day is not the solution to the problems caused by sitting all day. Finding a happy medium is the right answer.

Many stand-up desks on the market can be raised or lowered. This allows people to avoid a situation where they stand or sit all day but can find a good balance. If you have a stand-up desk, you should take time during the day to find a place where you can have a seat.

The opposite is true, too. If you sit at a desk all day, it’s good to get and walk around or stand in place for a while.

Regular exercise, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy are just as important as your choice to sit or stand. But you should realize that excess is often the problem. Regardless of your work environment, you should never sit all day or stand all day. Varying your routine is important and will make you more productive and healthier in the long run.

Vein Disease

Posted on March 26, 2021June 9, 2023 by The Vein Company

Vein disease is something most people just see on really long infomercials trying to sell some product to get rid of it. Lotions, lasers, clinics, they’ll try to sell it all in either the most mundane voice-over or by someone who is way too excited about it. Varicose veins, Spider veins, and reticular veins- what’s the difference? How do you know if you have it or not? What can be practically done about it?

Types of Vascular Diseases

Probably the more known vein disease is varicose veins. Typically, they are shown as the thick, wavy veins that protrude out of the skin. However, that is not the only form that it comes in; swelling, discoloration of skin, and ulcers may appear. Symptoms can include heaviness in the legs, itching or burning, lower leg swelling, and night cramps.

Spider veins are a bit different, they look like an average vein but spread out in a web-like fashion and visible to the eye. Spider vein issues include; swelling, consistent soreness, clotting, ulcers, and changes in skin color.

Reticular veins are short, wavy lines of the vein that can be seen on the skin. This type seems to be almost like the beginning stage for the other two however it does not have the same symptoms and is more cosmetic. But where did all this information come from?

How The Vein Company Can Help

The Vein Company website lays it all out in a very user-friendly format. They explain the difference between each disease with pictures. While most websites that are in the top search for any type of ailment normally end up with the diagnosis of something unrelated and dramatic such as cancer, The Vein Company stays on topic. They even have a quiz to assess whether or not you might actually have a vein disease; through simple yes or no questions, it leads the quiz taker to a result that can help them to consultation if needed.

The Vein Company allows you to schedule a consultation with them right on their website too. No need to do the research, take the quiz then find somewhere to go, it’s all laid out for you and is easily assessable. They even have a Frequently Asked Question section to put any remaining concerns to rest. This company truly has you covered with any aspect needed for the issue of vein disease. So the question now remains will you finally find somewhere to get rid of these health problems or will you be stuck with them in this New Year?

Not Just Women are Affected By Varicose Veins

Posted on March 26, 2021November 8, 2023 by The Vein Company

Traditionally, with age comes a release of the classic signs of attractiveness like wrinkle-free arms, mole-free faces, and varicose-vein-free legs. But despite being associated with aging in women, varicose veins are far from a classic sign of aging beauty. While often seen as a primarily cosmetic concern that emotionally affects women, these bulging veins affect both women and men and both youth and golden-aged people.

Men Are Affected, Too!

Despite the cosmetic implications, the appearance of varicose veins is a treatable medical condition that flows throughout the world with little preference for gender. According to research, an estimated 40% of men are stricken with the condition. The men and women who find themselves with bulging veins have more to worry about than appearance. Varicose veins can lead to conditions like skin-bleeding, skin discoloration, skin ulcers, and a “heavy leg” sensation.

This condition has a strong genetic component, where veins in the lower extremities expand when standing erect, and then do not return to their original position. Those genetically predisposed to weaker vein walls are at risk of developing varicose veins. Thankfully for men, overcoming a genetic predisposition for varicose veins doesn’t require anything outrageous. Experts say that exercising is the easiest way to maintain a consistently strong blood flow and keep the walls of the veins strong and in top condition.

Also, men who enjoy those pepperoni pizzas, flaming hot buffalo sauces, and tasty hot sausages may have to simmer those habits down in favor of a good, healthy vein flow. Research indicates that a high sodium diet most certainly contributes to the development of varicose veins.

Move Your Body, Get Blood Flowing

And finally, the last and most difficult task performed in order to avoid those popping varicose veins: GET UP! While many of us have the misfortune of working in an office where our bums do most of the heavy lifting all day, this unhealthy habit leads to blood pooling and exaggerated veins. While doing a full-on bodybuilding session in the middle of the office is far from optional for most of us, 55-year-old you will thank you kindly or years to come for taking those extra bathroom breaks.

Because varicose veins are often marketed as a mere cosmetic problem strictly for older women, men of all ages are done a huge disservice. If symptoms of restless leg syndrome, pain in calves after walking, and muscle cramps, consistently affect you, regardless of gender, then non-cosmetic treatment plans might be the option.

Please contact us today! to do a professional evaluation!