If you have varicose veins on your legs, you know them by their bulging, twisted appearance. The issue with severe varicose veins is that they can indicate a condition called venous insufficiency, which can cause serious health problems such as blood clots. It can also cause chronic leg pain.
Our veins have a series of tiny one-way valves, which prevent the blood from flowing backward. However, if the valves become weak and malfunction, the blood pools in the vein, and the pressure in the vein walls increases. This causes them to become enlarged and obvious on the skin if the vein is near the skin’s surface.
The good news is that varicose veins and their smaller counterpart, spider veins, can be successfully treated. Let’s talk about why it is in your best interest to have an evaluation by a vein doctor if you have varicose veins, and where you can go in Tampa Bay for world-class vein treatment.
Reason #1: To Get a Diagnosis of Your Vein Problem
A diagnosis is the first step toward treatment. To diagnose varicose veins, a vein doctor will physically examine your veins and may use a Duplex ultrasound to evaluate the vein structures and blood flow. The vein doctor will likely also check for blood clots.
Reason #2: To Get Personalized Recommendations from a Vein Expert
Sitting or standing for long periods of time, being overweight or obese, being inactive, smoking, and taking hormone therapies can all increase your risk of developing varicose veins. Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy usually subside gradually after delivery.
Your vein doctor will assess the reasons behind your varicose veins and provide recommendations to help you get rid of them. These may include wearing compression stockings, exercising regularly, avoiding crossing your legs while sitting, and putting your feet up at the end of the day.
For severe varicose veins, your vein doctor may recommend surgical intervention. This is a relatively simple procedure, so do not dismiss it out-of-hand.
Reason #3: To Receive Specialized Treatment to Remove Your Varicose Veins
Your vein doctor can perform minimally invasive vein treatments that seal off the supply of blood to the varicose vein. From less-invasive sclerotherapy (which involves the use of an irritating solution being injected into the vein) to ablation treatment (which uses heat or radiofrequency treatment) to more-invasive laser surgery and vein removal, your vein doctor offers effective solutions for your varicose vein problem.
The reason why this is an effective solution is that the blood will naturally reroute to nearby veins – usually to veins that are deeper beneath the skin’s surface and are larger. The body will naturally eliminate the closed vein. Closing or removing the vein properly will not cause harm.
In addition to these minimally invasive procedures, your vein doctor may recommend taking varicose vein supplements to complement your treatment. Specific vitamins and herbs can help ease the symptoms associated with varicose veins.
Vein Doctor in Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, and Largo, FL
If you are looking for a vein clinic in the Tampa Bay area, consider Dr. Edward Mackay. Dr. Mackay is a skilled vascular surgeon and Tampa’s most trusted vein and circulation specialist.
Dr. Mackay specializes in treating spider veins and varicose veins, improving the appearance of your legs, and helping improve your symptoms associated with vein issues with a personalized treatment plan.
To make an appointment with Tampa Bay’s premier vein doctor, call our clinic today at (727) 349-5652 or fill out our convenient appointment request form online now. We have three vein clinics in Southwest Florida in which to serve you: Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg, and Largo. We look forward to seeing you here!
