Not a fan of the bulging, blue veins on your legs? You’re not alone. About 20 percent of all adults experience the discomfort and embarrassment of varicose veins at some point in their lives.
Varicose veins aren’t just a cosmetic concern though. In fact, untreated varicose veins can increase your risk for a variety of medical conditions. Because swift action is vital for reducing your risk of these complications, Dr. Johnny Serrano and our experienced staff at Precision Surgery are happy to offer varicose vein treatments so you can have healthier circulation and feel good about your legs again — both inside and out.
Dr. Serrano shares more about the complexities behind varicose veins.
Trying to hide varicose veins may seem like a surface-only problem, but the issue may be a little deeper. That’s because varicose veins can be a sign of venous insufficiency. In a healthy vein, the blood is returned to your heart against gravity by a series of valves that encourage blood to flow in the correct direction. But if those valves aren’t working quite right, the blood can flow backwards. This is called reflux, and it can lead to blood pooling in your leg veins.
Venous insufficiency can lead to other issues, too, including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and ulcers.
The pools of blood caused by varicose veins can make your legs feel achy and heavy, but they can also increase your risk of blood clots. Blood clots are dangerous if they break away. In severe cases, a blood clot that breaks loose can cause a stroke or pulmonary embolism.
A deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms within a vein deep within your body. Symptoms of DVT may include swelling, pain, and tenderness.
Blood clots aren’t the only risk of venous insufficiency. Skin ulcers can form when too much blood or other fluid leaks out of the vessel, and wounds may appear, especially on the legs and ankles. These wounds are typically slow-healing and can increase your risk of infection.
Treating vascular disease doesn’t just improve the appearance of your legs, but it improves your vascular system, too.
To ring in the New Year correctly. Dr. Serrano is offering Free Vein Consultation and Ultrasound screening for the month of January 2020, every Monday and Thursday!
At Precision Surgery, we’re happy to provide vascular care as well as general surgery services to patients living in and around Glendale, Arizona. If you have concerns about your varicose veins, don’t hesitate to call 602-547-3300 or use our online booking system to schedule your consultation today.
