Why should you never ignore Spider Veins?

At least one-third of adults in India suffer from one or the other form of a venous disorder but are not necessarily aware of it. The most common vein disease is spider veins. These are not swollen and enlarged or painful and discomforting but are visible in the form of spider-web-like structures primarily on the legs and feet.

If your parents or siblings have a medical history of a vascular disorder, there are high chances of you developing spider veins or varicose veins at some point in your lifetime. Apart from genetics, lifestyle factors such as consumption of fatty foods, insufficient intake of water, excessive alcohol consumption, inadequate physical activity, and remaining in the same posture for long durations at a stretch are the other common causes of a venous disorder.

Spider veins not only cause cosmetic displeasure but also signal towards an underlying issue in the circulation of blood. It is tedious for an individual to differentiate between varicose veins and spider veins by just merely looking at them through the naked eye.

It is thus extremely important to take notice of the early signs and visit your vascular expert for thorough diagnosis and timely treatment before further progression of the vascular disorder as any delay in medical aid can worsen the condition and result in:

  1. Blood Clots – Pooling of blood due to spider veins and/or varicose veins can result in clotting. These blood clots, in turn, can further restrict blood flow and cause other life-long health issues.
  2. Ulcers – Additional pressure on the vein walls due to undue pooling of blood can lead to inflammation, swelling, and eventually open sores (ulcers) on the legs and feet. These are accompanied by fluid discharge and are quite difficult to heal.
  3. Cellulitis – Cellulitis is a skin infection caused by the bacteria that is naturally present on the skin. Cellulitis can result in tissue damage, organ damage, and other infections that prevent the body from healing itself.

    Spider veins are a warning sign that other tissue disorders such as cellulitis are likely to develop in incidences of lack or delay in treatment.

  4. DVTDeep Vein Thrombosis refers to the development of blood clots in the deep veins. These clots cause swelling, pain, and the skin around the affected area becomes discolored and is often warm to touch.

  5. Pulmonary Embolism – The blood clots in the deep veins can break free and travel to the lungs or heart, thus cutting off the oxygen supply. These can even cause death if immediate medical care is not made available.

What to do next?

If you are currently suffering from varicose veins or have a family history of a vascular disorder that places you at high risk of varicose veins, always keep a close eye on the symptoms and do not delay getting medical assistance from a vascular specialist on the occurrence of the primary signs.

Avis Vascular Centre is a well-equipped medical institute with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and round-the-clock expert assistance for all patients. All our doctors are highly qualified and supremely experienced in laser treatment of varicose veins.

Laser treatment is a painless and minimally invasive treatment procedure for venous disorders. It is a quick process performed as an outpatient procedure and the patient can go back home on the same day. There are minimal chances of any side-effects or recurrence of varicose veins. Performed under the influence of local anaesthesia, this is a safe procedure for patients of all age groups.

At Avis Vascular Centre, the expert healthcare practitioners follow all protocols from the American College of Phlebology and perform only USFDA approved procedures for world-class treatment, higher chances of success, and faster recovery.

Free duplex ultrasound scan and specialist consultation visits are arranged for all deserving patients. Avis Vascular Centre has also tied up with all leading national insurance agencies of India to offer cashless Mediclaim assistance in a stress-free and hassle-free way. Our team also manages travel and accommodation bookings for all out-station patients.

We are your one-stop destination for the best treatment of venous diseases at the most affordable prices. Do not think twice, simply schedule your consultation with the renowned vascular experts at Avis Vascular Centre and say goodbye to your vascular disorder and discomfort! Book now!

Varicose Veins versus Spider Veins

What are varicose veins? How do we get spider veins? Are varicose veins any different from spider veins? These are the most common questions that a majority of the people have when they are experiencing what they think might be varicose veins or spider veins.

Varicose veins and spider veins are both similar vascular disorders. However, when we pay close attention, there are prominent differences in the symptoms and treatment of both these medical conditions.

Let us understand the similarities and differences in varicose veins and spider veins in the blog today.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are the swollen, enlarged, and twisted veins that turn bluish-purple in colour. These abnormal and dilated veins are commonly found on the legs and are clearly visible to the naked eye.

Varicose veins can be easily felt right under the surface of the skin. Varicose veins cause a feeling of heaviness and discomfort in the legs. The patient also feels itching and irritation on the damaged area accompanied by a burning, throbbing or tingling sensation.

Varicose veins, when left untreated, can lead to severe health issues like blood clots, DVT, and active venous ulcers. It is vital to get the varicose veins treated to prevent them from worsening and for improving the look and feel of your legs.

What are spider veins?

Comparatively smaller in size than varicose veins, spider veins are red, purple, and blue blood vessels that are visible on the skin of the legs, chest, and face in the form of branches or spider web like structure.

These veins are tiny, mostly less than 1mm in diameter and visible just below the surface of the skin. Spider veins are usually painless and do not cause swelling in the affected area. Spider veins generally do not lead to any other critical health problems.

Spider veins may be caused due to the faulty one-way valves or may occur due to chronic venous insufficiency. A patient may have both varicose veins and spider veins at the same time but not all spider veins turn

What causes varicose veins and spider veins?

Both these are vascular disorders that occur due to malfunctioning valves of the veins that restrict the blood from flowing back to the heart and instead result in the pooling of the blood in the veins and the surrounding tissues.

This causes additional pressure on the veins and makes them enlarged and bulging out from the surface of the skin. The below-mentioned factors are the leading risk factors for varicose veins and spider veins:

  1. Hereditary
  2. Obesity
  3. Lack of physical exercise
  4. Use of birth control pills
  5. History of blood clots
  6. Hormonal replacement after menopause
  7. Hormonal influence during pregnancy, puberty, menopause
  8. Occupations that require extended hours of standing or sitting in the same position (nurses, teachers, factory workers, hair stylists, etc)
  9. Conditions that increase the pressure in the abdomen area (tumours, constipation, certain garments, etc)
  • Any previous vein surgery
  • Trauma or injury to the leg
  • Exposure to UV rays

Similarities between varicose veins and spider veins

  1. Varicose veins and spider veins are very common. As many as 50% of people over 50 years of age suffer from varicose veins.
  2. Both these medical conditions are hereditary disorders. If anyone in your family has had varicose veins or spider veins, it is not uncommon for you to also have them.
  3. Spider veins, as well as varicose veins, are related to body weight. Obese people have a higher tendency of suffering from one or both of these venous disorders
  4. Spider veins and varicose veins are related to the age as older people more are more likely to suffer from them
  5. Both these are also related to the gender as a large number of women have been reported to suffer from varicose veins and spider veins as opposed to their male counterparts

Differences between varicose veins and spider veins

  1. Varicose veins usually occur on the legs while spider veins can occur on the legs, face, and chest also
  2. Spider veins are oftentimes just a cosmetic issue but varicose veins deteriorate the quality of the life and hinder with the everyday activities
  3. Varicose vein symptoms are much worse and lead to extreme swelling, pain, itching, and discomfort in the legs
  4. Spider veins hardly result in any extreme condition while varicose veins always have a high chance of getting worse in cases when the treatment is delayed
  5. A few women may develop varicose veins during pregnancy which may go away on its own in about 3 months after delivery. Spider veins have no link to pregnancy.

Treatment for spider veins may only be needed for cosmetic purposes but is it essential to get varicose veins treated to prevent further worsening of the condition. Untreated varicose veins can lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), chronic venous insufficiency, venous ulcers, etc.

Today, with enormous advancements in medical science and technology, painless and minimally invasive laser treatment options are available for varicose veins. Referred to as the Endovenous Laser Treatment, it is a quick procedure and has proven to deliver successful results for even the most critical cases.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is an internationally qualified and extensively trained interventional radiologist with over 24 years of experience. He has successfully treated over 12000 patients, not only from India, but also from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Europe, and America.

At Avis Hospitals, Dr. Rajah V Koppala only employs the USFDA approved treatment procedure for varicose veins. This endovenous laser ablation technique is suitable for people of all age groups and has a success rate of 95% with zero downtime.

Avis Hospitals offer 100% price assurance at the time of admission and also offer free colour doppler examination for all patients. Avis Hospitals also offers round the clock services for outstation patients along with 100% assistance for Mediclaim requests as well. We are your one-stop medical institution for the most genuine treatment of varicose veins. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals today!