by Alita Mccaleb

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

According to the Mayo Clinic, varicose veins affect up to 50 percent of women and up to 20 percent of men. Often, varicose veins and spider veins run in families and there may be a hereditary component. Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. They most commonly develop in the legs and ankles and are caused by faulty valves in your veins and weakened vein walls. When these valves do not function properly, blood pools, pressure builds up, and the veins become weakened, enlarged, and twisted. This is called venous insufficiency.

Symptoms include:
-visible dark blue, swollen, twisted veins in the legs
-legs feel heavy, tired, and painful; this worsens after sitting or standing for a long period of time
-dry, thinned skin covering the legs

Varicose veins are common and are not always a sign of a serious medical problem. But in some cases, varicose veins can signal a blockage in the deeper veins. This condition, called deep vein thrombosis, requires evaluation and possibly treatment.

TREATMENT
Self-help measures such as exercising regularly, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting worse. Wearing compression stockings is often the first approach to try before moving on to other treatments. Compression stockings are worn all day. They steadily squeeze your legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. The amount of compression varies by type and brand.

If you don't respond to self-help or if your condition is more severe, your doctor may advise one of these varicose vein treatments:
-Sclerotherapy: the most common treatement for varicose veins; a procedure where the doctor injects small/medium varicose veins with a solution that scars and closes those veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. This doesn't require anesthesia and can be done in your doctor's office.
-Laser surgery: sends a strong burst of light onto the vein, making it fade and disappear. This is still considered experimental by some insurance companies and is often not covered.
-Catheter-assisted procedures: treatments in which the doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein and heats the tip of the catheter. As the catheter is pulled out, the heat destroys the vein by causing it to collapse and seal shut. This procedure is usually done for larger varicose veins.

When it comes to treatment options for varicose veins, it pays to be a cautious health consumer. Advertisements claiming "unique," "permanent" or "painless" methods to remove varicose veins may be appealing, but they may not actually measure up to those claims. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed, but before undergoing any procedure, ask your doctor about any health risks and possible side effects.

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