When Visible Veins Become Worrisome · Manhattan Vein Specialists

You may be surprised to learn just how many people suffer from a variety of vein issues. The current numbers reflect an estimated 30 percent of the population. You are definitely not alone.

Several of these conditions are not accompanied by visible veins. They require an ultrasound test to detect them. But whether or not you can see your veins, they may cause aching, throbbing, swelling, restlessness or ulcers.

The visible vein problems tend to bother people the most, but they mostly involve cosmesis. These bothersome veins age you far beyond your years. They make you want to hide indoors, under clothing or behind cosmetics. Visit an experienced Manhattan vein doctor to get medical treatment to treat these vein problems.

You Can’t Live Without Them

Without the hard work of healthy veins, your heart cannot deliver blood to all the necessary parts of your body. If your veins are unhealthy, your blood can collect in them — stuck, with nowhere to go. This condition results in the unattractive and sometimes painful bulging vein.

Three different types of visible veins exist. They can appear anywhere on your body, but the ones that may bother you the most show up on your face, hands, arms, legs and feet — the parts of your body that are difficult to hide from the world. The three types of visible veins are:

Varicose veins are rope-like in appearance, often with a blue or purple hue. They tend to be noticeable primarily on your legs, and they often bulge from your skin.
Spider veins are much smaller than varicose veins. Usually red or blue, they usually appear on your face or legs. But in some cases, they show up in other places, like your back or torso.
Reticular veins are blue or green and are sometimes called feeder veins. They usually appear on your legs and face. These are credited for causing spider veins if left untreated.

Veins Don’t Discriminate

Painful vein conditions can happen to anyone. You may even have been born with some visible veins. Heredity is one of the more common and significant causes.

More likely, you started to notice the veins on your hands as your skin began to age and thin. If your job requires long hours standing on hard surfaces, visible veins can show up on your legs and feet. A few other factors that can cause vein problems or make them worse include:

Pregnancy
Drastic hormonal changes, such as menopause
Birth control pills
History of blood clots

Obesity has an impact on vein issues too. Being overweight puts additional stress on the veins, especially in your legs and feet. This pressure can lead to varicose veins or contribute to other vein conditions. High blood pressure and a lack of physical activity, which accompany being overweight, cause further vein problems and damage. High blood pressure in particular exacerbates your problems. Visible veins can give way to painful ulcers and open lesions around your ankles.

Be Proactive

Do not wait for your veins to become a serious threat to your health. The sooner you seek help from an experienced vein doctor, the less complicated and more successful your treatment will be. And while your NYC specialist can offer a number of successful treatment options, she first recommends some simple lifestyle changes to improve your overall health:

Eat well
Keep moving around
Work toward a weight that’s healthy for you
Stop smoking
Wear sunscreen
Apply pressure with compression

The medical procedures used to treat your veins have improved over the years. The procedures done on an outpatient basis in the doctor’s office include:

It’s possible for some visible veins to reappear or for more to take their place. So even on the heels of having your veins successfully treated, you need to maintain the results. Living a healthier lifestyle ensures your recovery and reduces the chances of recurrence.