Why You Should Never Ignore Leg Swelling
Leg swelling might come from something passing and not harmful, but it could also signal a serious health condition. To make sure it’s not the latter, seek medical care when you notice swelling in your legs.
If you have issues with varicose veins, you are not alone. The American Society for Vascular Surgery says that at least 20 to 25 million Americans have this vein problem. Varicose veins can be unsightly and sometimes problematic. Fortunately, varicose vein treatment can reduce the appearance of varicose veins and any issues they may present.
With a little help from gravity, oxygen-rich blood travels from your heart to the rest of your body through your arteries. Your cells burn oxygen as fuel and produce waste as they function. The waste products go back into the blood, which goes through veins back up to your heart. Veins
Your veins carry these waste products back up towards your heart. Unlike arteries, veins must fight gravity to move blood upwards. Tiny valves in your veins open and close at the right time and trap blood in small sections within the veins, so that the blood does not flow back into your feet in between heartbeats.
These valves can fail, though, and allow blood to pool in your feet and ankles. The veins in your lower legs can respond by bloating and twisting. Bloated, twisted veins near the surface of the skin appear as varicose veins.
The most noticeable problem associated with varicose veins is their unattractive appearance. These bulging, twisted blue veins can ruin the smooth appearance of your skin on the backs of your legs.
Varicose veins often cause no symptoms at all. They can cause feelings of heaviness or tiredness in your legs, particularly after a long day of work. This vein disease can also cause leg swelling, cramps and itching.
Varicose veins may be a sign of a more serious chronic venous problem in your leg. The larger the varicose vein, in general, the worse the problem. Varicose veins are often associated with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition where valves do not work as they should, which allows the “old” blood and the toxins it contains to accumulate in the lower legs. Left untreated, varicose veins from CVI can lead to painful sores on your ankles, known as stasis ulcers.
Fortunately, Cincinnati vein treatment can alleviate the appearance of varicose veins and prevent many of the issues associated with varicose veins. Treatments include phlebectomy and ambulatory phlebectomy to remove the diseased veins. Your Cincinnati vein treatment clinic may also offer endovenous laser ablation, also known as EVLA or EVLT, which uses the power of laser light to remove varicose veins.
Treatments for varicose veins safely and effectively make the unsightly veins disappear. Many patients cannot believe the difference in their veins before & after ambulatory phlebectomy, phlebectomy or other Cincinnati vein treatment procedures can provide.
