Varicose Vein Myths & The Truth About Venous Disease

Myths of vein disease are perpetuated because there is a lot of misunderstanding of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. Varicose veins are actually caused by a weakness in the vein which doesn't allow blood to rise up the leg against the constant push of gravity downwards. This vein weakness may be a genetic issue, as venous disease runs in families, or may be due to multiple pregnancies or prior blood clots.


STANDING ON CONCRETE FLOORS CAUSED MY VARICOSE VEINS
1) There is a perception that standing on concrete floors causes varicose veins. Varicosities are actually caused by a weakness in either the vein walls or the fine valves in the vein that propel blood up the leg against the constant force of gravity downwards. The floor surface has nothing to do with the propensity to develop leg veins. Standing on carpeted floors would not change your likelihood of developing these veins.

CROSSING MY LEGS CAUSED MY VARICOSE VEINS
2) Crossing the legs leads does not lead to varicose veins, despite the lingering fear that this is a harmful activity. There is no excess pressure placed on the leg veins by simply crossing the legs, and there is no anatomical basis for this concern.

I'M OVERWEIGHT AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE VARICOSE VEINS
3) Being 20-30 pounds overweight does not increase the incidence of varicose veins, and losing 20-30 pounds will not make the veins go away. Very significant obesity may play a role in the development of venous insufficiency, but being mildly overweight is not a significant factor in your veins. In fact, as you lose weight, and the excess fat in the legs melts away, the veins may become more visible.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT VARICOSE VEINS WERE A COSMETIC ISSUE
4) Varicose veins are most certainly not purely a cosmetic issue. The weakness in the veins leads to progressively elevated pressures in the leg veins. Symptoms of leg heaviness, aching and swelling are medical issues, and the likelihood of your developing skin changes, pigmentation and ulceration of the ankles makes treatment of varicose veins a medical issue.

I READ THAT COMPRESSION HOSE WILL CURE MY VEINS
5) Compression stocking are used only to alleviate the symptoms of varicose veins and venous insufficiency. They do not cure the disease or prevent a progressive enlargement of the veins. Some insurance companies insist that patients try these hose before allowing us to proceed with vein treatment, but the stocking most certainly do not cure the underlying vein weakness.

VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT IS PAINFUL AND DOESN'T WORK
6) The newer methods of vein treatment, such as VNUS Closure, VenaSeal and Clarivein are highly effective methods of eliminating the venous reflux and treating the symptoms of varicose veins. Each of these treatments is an office based procedure done under local anesthesia....you can return to normal activity the same day! Your medical insurance company will usually help cover the cost of treatment. We cannot, however, change your genetics, and if you have a strong family history of varicose veins, you may indeed develop new veins as the years pass. If this occurs, rest assured that treatment will remain very effective and you will never "run out" of veins. Your body has hundreds of legs veins, and really only a very few ever develop varicosities.