03.07.14
Cosmetic
Dispelling a Myth of Varicose Veins
Today I will be presenting at the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners' annual meeting in Reston, Virginia about the current management of venous disease, including the newer therapies of VNUS Closure, Varithena and Clarivein.
One portion of my presentation will be the myths of varicose vein treatment. A common myth is that women of childbearing age should wait until they are done with pregnancies before seeking evaluation of their varicose veins. The currently accepted view is that women who have symptoms of varicose veins need a full evaluation and possible treatment between pregnancies, instead of waiting until all pregnancies are completed.
The elevated hormones of pregnancy cause the veins to enlarge, the valve to malfunction, and venous insufficiency to increase. While the postpartum state leads to some resolution of the symptoms and appearance, the internal vein issues remain. Subsequent pregnancies exacerbate the condition and increase the risk of pain, swelling and even blood clots. Fortunately, treatment in between pregnancies with one of the listed options (VNUS Closure, Varithena or Clarivein) does an excellent job of restoring normal venous flow and reducing the risk of complications.
