Spider veins aren’t harmful on their own, but they may be an early signal of serious vascular issues. That’s why it’s best not to shrug off these squiggly blue and purple veins that have a web-like appearance.
Nader Chadda, MD, FACC, FSCAI, and the Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates team provide comprehensive vascular care and encourage patients to have a vascular evaluation when they notice the appearance of spider veins. Vascular diseases often cause no symptoms early on, making them easy to miss until they advance.
Spider veins are small, damaged blood vessels visible just beneath the surface of the skin. They get their name from their appearance, which is likened to a spider web. These veins can appear anywhere, but due to the impact of gravity, they’re more likely to appear on the legs. They tend to appear in clusters, and are often red, blue, or purple.
These very small but visible blood vessels usually don’t cause any pain, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t any cause for concern.
Blood vessels in the legs have an uphill battle. They must work against gravity to transport blood to the heart. To accomplish this, veins have one-way valves designed to open and shut tightly to keep blood moving in the right direction.
When these valves fail to work properly, blood pools, and veins become damaged. There’s a strong genetic component to spider veins, with 90% of patients having some family history. Other risk factors include:
Hormones are another factor in the development of spider veins, and women are more likely to develop spider veins than men.
Protecting your vascular health means being proactive instead of waiting for obvious signs and symptoms. In some cases, faulty veins like spider veins point to underlying vascular trouble like chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
This condition happens when leg veins can’t work as they should. Since these veins are unable to manage blood flow efficiently, it’s harder for blood in your legs to return to your heart. As a result, blood pools in the legs, increasing pressure on vein walls.
Left untreated, CVI can progress, causing troublesome symptoms that negatively impact your mobility and quality of life. If you have chronic venous insufficiency you may experience:
Varicose veins, which are larger versions of spider veins, can be another sign of CVI.
Staying on top of your vascular health is the best way to keep your vascular system strong and healthy. If you have spider veins, schedule a consultation with us at Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates.
A full leg ultrasound shows us how well blood is flowing through your leg and allows us to spot damaged veins. If we confirm that you have faulty leg valves, we’ll make an official diagnosis of chronic vein insufficiency.
Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates offers the latest treatments to eliminate spider veins. VenaSeal™ is a non-thermal, minimally invasive treatment that uses a special medical adhesive to close faulty veins, while Varithena™ uses an injectable microfoam to treat spider veins. Both treatments cause the body to reroute blood to healthy veins, improving vascular health.
Visit Advanced Heart & Vascular Associates to discuss your spider veins. Our team can help you determine if you need treatment and choose the right solution if you do. To learn more, and to request a visit, call or send a message to our Hudson or Brooksville, Florida, clinic today.
