WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS AND SPIDER VEINS?
Varicose veins are swollen bulging veins under the surface of the skin that can be dark purple or blue in color. Although varicose veins can occur anywhere in the legs, they are most often found on the backs of the calves and behind the knees.
Spider veins, a variant of varicose veins, are smaller, red or blue in color, and are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Also known as telangectasias, they can look like a tree branch or spider web with their short jagged branches. Spider veins are most commonly found on the legs and the face, and come in a variety of sizes.

The function of veins is to bring deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Because the veins are a low pressure system, they contain one-way valves to prevent the blood from flowing backwards as it travels back to the heart. If the one-way valve becomes weak, some of the blood can leak back into the vein, causing the veins to become congested or clogged. This congestion will cause the vein to abnormally enlarge, which in turn leads to either varicose veins or spider veins.

HOW COMMON ARE ABNORMAL LEG VEINS?
With over 40 million people affected in the U.S. alone, varicose veins are one of the most prevalent diseases affecting both men and women. As many as 60% of American women and men suffer from some form of vein disorder throughout their lives. Varicose and spider veins can occur in people of all walks of life, at all ages, and regardless of how active their lifestyle.

WHAT CAUSES VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS?
No one knows the exact cause of spider and varicose veins, but there are several factors that cause a person to be more likely to develop them. The biggest risk factors for varicose veins are family history of varicose veins or a history of pregnancy. In other words, you either get them from your parents, or you get them from your kids.

ARE VARICOSE AND SPIDER VEINS PAINFUL OR DANGEROUS?
Medical treatment usually is not required for varicose or spider veins. However, varicose veins can become quite uncomfortable as well as look unattractive. Varicose veins usually enlarge and worsen over time, which can cause the legs and feet to swell. Although severe leg pain is not common, leg muscles may feel fatigued or heavy, or throb and cramp at night. The skin on the legs and around the ankles also can itch or burn.
In some cases, varicose veins and spider veins can cause more serious problems, and medical treatment will provide benefits. If the veins problems become severe, they can cause a condition called venous insufficiency, a severe clogging of the blood in the veins that prevents it from returning to the heart. This condition can cause problems like a deep-vein thrombosis (blood clot) which can be very dangerous because of the possibility of it traveling from the leg veins to the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism, where it may block the heart and lungs from functioning. Lastly, because the skin tissue around the varicose vein may not receive enough nourishment, sores or skin ulcers may develop.

HOW ARE VARICOSE VEINS DIAGNOSED?
For many patients, an office evaluation by a vein specialist is all that is needed to determine the extent of the varicose and spider vein, and to develop an initial treatment plan. In other patients, however, when there is evidence that some of the larger superficial veins might be incompetent and contributing to the visible varicose veins. When this is suspected a detailed examination using a sophisticated Duplex Doppler ultrasound scanner is done to 'map' the blood flow and characterize the vessels. This non invasive test performed in the office setting allows the treating physician to better characterize the extent of the problem and develop a treatment plan that will minimize the chance of recurrence and maximize the potential to obtain the best results.