Varicose veins – you’ve seen them, perhaps you have them. But what causes them, and are they really a cause for concern? In fact, varicose veins are a symptom of vein disease. Boynton Beach Vascular Doctors explain the risk factors for vein disease and why it’s so important not to let them go untreated.
Vein disease develops when the tiny valves inside our veins become damaged and don’t work as well as they should. Normally, these valves help propel blood back up the body through the veins to the heart, but when they begin to fail, blood can pool in the legs. This pooling may lead to swelling, discomfort, and the unsightly varicose veins we know so well.
Vein disease has many risk factors, some of which we can control and some of which we can do nothing about. Among those we cannot control are age and heredity. Around 50% of people over age 50 have some form of vein disease. Those with a family history of vein disease are also more likely to get it themselves.
Among the risk factors we can affect are lifestyle issues such as being overweight or obese, which place extra stress on the circulatory system and on those little valves in our veins. They weaken when overworked. Standing on the feet for extended periods of time may also overwork our veins. Smoking cigarettes increases blood pressure, which is also an added stress.
The problem with vein disease isn’t so much their unsightly nature, although that can definitely put a damper on your ability to enjoy showing off your legs. It’s that left untreated, vein disease progresses, and can lead to more serious consequences, such as leg ulceration or even blood clots, which can become deadly embolisms.
Boynton Beach vein doctors explain that maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly and not smoking are excellent ways to prevent the development of vein disease, or to slow its progress if it has already begun.
However, these measures will not get rid of existing vein disease. Fortunately, our vein experts offer a number of effective, minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins that can be performed right in our Boynton Beach vein clinic, in about an hour. These procedures include sclerotherapy, endogenous laser treatments and microphlebectomy, all of which will restore the health and beauty of your legs without slowing you down or causing discomfort.
The first step to dealing with vein disease is to schedule an appointment with a vein expert at South Palm Cardiovascular Associates. It’s a painless, quick process in which you can find out your venous health status and the most appropriate treatment options for your particular situation.
So why wait? You are close to some of the best vein doctors in Boynton Beach, all under one roof at South Palm Cardiovascular Associates. Give us a call at 561-515-0080 to set up an appointment.
