Varicose Veins vs Spider Veins: What to Know
The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the body through Arteries. Veins carry the impure blood back to the heart. Veins have valves which prevent blood from flowing backwards. When such valves become weak and do not fully close to prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction, they become swollen and are called varicose veins. Varicose veins cause a lot of pain, numbness and fatigue. Spider veins are smaller discoloured (red, purple and blue) veins and are named after their spider like appearance. They are less painful as compared to varicose veins. Spider veins also develop due to the non-functioning of the valves in the veins. They can also be caused by obesity, heredity and hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
The veins in the lower part of the body endure the most pressure while carrying blood back to the heart. The body weight, the force of gravity and working against it, causes veins in the legs to be more prone to Varicose/ Spider Veins.
The causes of Varicose vs Spider veins are:
- Heredity
- Continuously standing for a long time as is the case for professionals like Teachers, Nurse,
- factory workers etc.
- Obesity
- Hormonal changes that come with puberty, pregnancy and menopause
- Pressure in the abdomen as a result of tumours, constipation etc.
Though the symptoms of Varicose/Spider Veins are more or less the same, they are more severe in
Varicose Veins. Spider veins may cause minor pain, itching or burning. The most common symptoms are listed below:
- Muscle cramps in the legs
- Itching, burning and tingling sensation
- Tiredness and Restlessness
- Swollen legs or ankles
- Swollen ulcers and skin discolouration
Pain from Varicose/Spider veins can be relieved by elevating the leg or by wearing support hose. There are many varicose veins treatment available in the market:
Sclerotherapy: This procedure involves injecting medicines into the targeted veins. This causes irritation in the walls of the veins and they stick together as a result of which the vein gets eliminatedcompletely.
Endovenous Laser Treatmet: This procedure is a minimally invasive method of dealing with varicose veins. A small tube is placed inside the vein. A device at the tip of the probe (which is placed inside the tube) heats the vein and shuts it off. This treatment can be done at the doctor’s clinic under Local Anaesthesia.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy: It is a procedure where a large section of the vein is removed through multiple incisions which do not need stitches. It is also a minimally invasive method and can be performed with local anaesthesia. Lasers and Intense Pulsed Light: Here heat energy is used to destroy the abnormal veins. However, the results of this treatment are often disappointing.
Surgery:
Surgery is used to treat large veins. It involves ligations where the vein is tied and stripping where the affected vein is removed. A change in the lifestyle can go a long way in treating Varicose/Spider Veins. Regular walking and exercising to keep weight under control, good skin hygiene can help in providing relief.