Varicose Veins vs. Spider Veins: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment in New York
Varicose veins are comparable to spider veins: they both have similar and distinguishable characteristics. Spider and varicose veins are becoming more rampant in the US with about 23% of adults having varicose veins, and about 80% of men and 85% of women having spider veins. Although these vein conditions might not pose any complications to your health, they need to be treated all the same.
Dr. Mohammed Hadi, Dr. Abdussami Hadi, and Dr. Shumail Haque, your #1 team of physiatrists in New York, have put together some helpful details about varicose and spider veins for you. Learn about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of varicose and spider veins.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are contorted, enlarged veins that mostly affect the veins in the legs due to the pressure created by standing and walking. They are distended blood vessels that bulge under the skin’s surface in the lower body. They can be itchy and painful, and in some cases, can lead to serious health problems.
What Are Spider Veins?
Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias or thread veins, are conspicuous clusters of damaged superficial blood vessels in the skin. They usually appear as red, blue, or purple lines resulting in a spider-like appearance. Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, only that they aren’t as big or painful as varicose veins.
Spider veins are mostly found on the legs and face. They hardly cause health problems; however, they can be painful at times. This vein disease is usually harmless and can easily be treated.
Comparison of Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
Varicose veins and spider veins are quite similar, but at the same time, they have certain things that differentiate them from each other. Let’s check out what they have in common and what differentiates them.
Symptoms
Symptoms of spider veins are quite similar to those of varicose veins; they are mild symptoms of varicose veins. They are smaller, thinner, and slightly more raised than varicose veins. Although they can cause slight discomfort, they are painless most of the time.
Varicose veins, on the other hand, are a more severe type of vein disease. They are larger and deeper than spider veins. They may also appear twisted or lumpy.
Depending on the severity of the vein condition, symptoms of varicose veins include:
- Itching
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Swelling of the legs and ankles
- Changes in skin color around the vein
- Cramping/swelling in the lower legs
- Achy and heavy feeling in the legs
- Burning and throbbing sensation in the legs.
The severity of the symptoms for this vein condition increases with the severity of the disease. Varicose vein disease might start with painless symptoms before progressing to painful symptoms. You need to visit a professional as soon as you see these signs for adequate vein disease treatment in New York.
Causes
Varicose and spider veins are caused by damaged or weakened valves in the veins of the legs. Arteries carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body, while the vein returns the blood from the body to the heart. To ensure this, the vein in the legs need to work against gravity.
As the blood flows to the heart, valves in the veins open and allow the passage of the blood. These valves in the vein prevent blood from flowing backward by closing. If the valves are damaged, blood can begin flowing backward and pool in the veins, causing them to stretch or twist.
Risk Factors
Here are factors that can increase the risk of developing vein conditions:
- Genetics: About 90% of people that have spider veins and varicose veins have a family history of them.
- Overweight: Having extra body weight can put pressure on leg veins.
- Pregnancy: Extra weight of the fetus and an increase in blood flow during pregnancy can cause vein diseases.
- Sex: Women are more likely to develop varicose and spider veins due to hormonal changes. About 41% of women aged 50 and above develop spider veins.
- Age: The valves in the vein grow weaker as you grow old, thereby increasing the risk of developing varicose and spider veins.
- Sun damage: UV light from the sun can cause broken blood vessels or spider veins.
Other risk factors for vein diseases include past blood clots, excess pressure in the face, standing or sitting for extended periods, etc.
Sclerotherapy in New York: Treatments for Your Vein Conditions
Varicose and spider veins can and should be treated once you notice them. One of the major treatments for vein diseases is sclerotherapy. It involves injecting the sclerotherapy solution into the vein. This solution causes the vein to scar, thereby forcing the blood to reroute through other healthy veins.
The vein then collapses and becomes reabsorbed into local tissue. Eventually, this vein fades and you are free of the vein condition.
At Hadi Medical Group, we provide you with sclerotherapy treatments in Brooklyn, Plainview, Hempstead, and Long Beach, NY. We can help you get rid of uncomfortable vein conditions and make it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You can contact us if you develop any vein conditions. Book an appointment now for our services.