Varicosities and its concerned fears haunt the modern man - by Christina Lobo

Varicose Veins are haunting the urban man, more often than any other disease now-a-days. Being overweight and less of exercise does contribute to the many diseases that are surfacing among the urban population. But the urban man might prefer diabetes and hypertension to some extent but not Varicose veins. And being over-conscious about their cosmetic appearance, makes Varicose veins the most detested disease by all. Let us discuss and understand why varicose veins are nightmares for the modern man. Varicose veins and telangiectasia (spider veins) are the visible surface manifestations of an underlying problem with reverse venous flow, which is also termed venous insufficiency syndrome. Venous insufficiency syndromes describe venous blood deviating from a normal flow path and flow in a retrograde direction so that fluid accumulates, causing a "congested" leg. Mild forms of venous insufficiency are merely uncomfortable, annoying, or cosmetically disfiguring, but severe venous disease can produce serious systemic consequences and can lead to loss of life or limb. Researchers have found out that Females are more prone to varicosities than males at any age, because of fluctuating hormonal factors. Most patients with venous insufficiency have subjective symptoms that may include pain, soreness, burning, aching, throbbing, cramping, muscle fatigue, and restless legs. Over time, chronic venous insufficiency leads to cutaneous and soft tissue breakdown that can be debilitating. Chronic venous insufficiency eventually produces chronic skin and soft tissue changes that begin with mild swelling and then progress to include discoloration, inflammatory dermatitis, recurrent or chronic cellulitis, cutaneous infarction, ulceration, and even malignant degeneration.

Chronic non-healing leg ulcers, bleeding from varicose veins and recurrent phlebitis are serious problems that are caused by venous insufficiency and can be relieved by the correction of venous insufficiency.

The symptoms of Varicosities do appear gradually, and it is better that you notice them at an early stage. Most varicose and spider veins in adults have their genesis in childhood. Serial examinations of children aged 10-12 years and again 4 and 8 years later showed that symptoms are experienced (and venous test results are abnormal) before any abnormal veins are visible at the surface of the skin.

When abnormal veins do become visible, reticular veins usually appear first and are followed after several years by incompetent perforators. Smaller telangiectatic webs and large varicose veins usually become visible only in adulthood, many years after the true onset of disease. Although varicosities continue to worsen and to recruit new areas of involvement throughout life, only a small number of new cases appear after the childbearing years.

Dr. Arlen G. Fleisher is Board-certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery and in Phlebology (the study and treatment of varicose and spider veins). He is an expert in his field and offers state-of-the-art and most minimally invasive techniques. All procedures are performed in his contemporary office suite, located in Hartsdale, New York, and involve minimal pain, discomfort and downtime with optimal results for his patients. He offers free vein screenings by appointment. One of the state-of-art Vein Treatment Centers in Westchester, Premier Vein Centers is run and operated by Dr. Fleisher.