Legs and Varicose Veins
Did you know that venous disease is chronic? It is.
Did you know that even after treatment you can still form new veins? Yes.
Did you know that the legs house some very important anatomy? They do.
When you think of important anatomy, you typically don’t think of legs. But indeed our legs house the venous system of the lower extremities.
And the veins, you say? Veins are very important to every part of our body. This venous highway of life delivers, blood, oxygen, hormones, water, and chemicals that is exchanged in our blood and tissues, keeping us alive and well.
What is a diseased vein and how would I know if I have them? In most cases, the bulging veins in the legs are a blue/green color and are most likely be painful, cause a burning sensation, and unknowingly drain your energy. These diseased veins are called varicose veins and are a medical condition that requires treatment and action on your part. Blood is carried through the body in the major system (arteries), from there it branches off into the secondary system (veins), and lastly it goes into the superficial system (capillaries). When the valves in the secondary system become weak blood starts pooling in these veins. This pooling stretches the veins, which become twisted, and bulge to the point of being visible to the eye on the skin’s surface. If left untreated they can lead to leg ulcers (wounds caused by a pooling of blood and a breakdown of the skin around it) and/or blood clots, which can be deadly.
A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease is a phlebologist. We strongly encourage you to get evaluated by an experienced board certified phlebologist to check the integrity of your venous system. Not all physicians are qualified to perform these treatments, so treat yourself to the best doctor in this field. Dr. Sidney Kass, MD is a board certified phlebologist and has over a decade of field experience.
Be empowered, educate yourself and have your legs examined. I was once told that, “Life looks better from behind a smile.” I say, treat your varicose and spider veins this fall and winter, then let your legs do the smiling next summer.
