Men & Vein Health: June 15-21 is International Men’s Health Week!

June is Men’s Health Month! Throughout June, Men’s Health Network shares education, amplifies awareness, and distributes free resources to improve the health of men, boys, and the families who care about them.

At the Vein Healthcare Center, we know that vein health is an important part of everyone’s overall health and wellbeing. According to epidemiologic studies of the 1960s and 70s, women are more likely than men to have venous disease, including varicose veins and spider veins. More recent research shows, however, that this may not be the case. We also know that men are more likely to suffer from vein issues and tend to present with the worst vein problems, such as ulcers. Why is this the case?

 

Phlebologists have often observed that women tend to get help for their vein issues right away, while men will often wait until the problem becomes too painful to ignore. The result is, often, leg ulcers that are difficult to heal. Even men who are athletic are susceptible to venous disease. Sometimes men with vein problems misinterpret their symptoms, mistaking the pains of venous disease for a strained or pulled muscle.

 

The important thing for patients with vein issues is to seek help as soon as symptoms present themselves, regardless of his or her gender. Venous conditions like varicose veins get worse with time, and the longer one waits, the more extensive the condition could become—and often, the treatment. Anatomically, men's leg veins are no different from women's veins. Looking at a leg ultrasound, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a man's and a woman's legs.

 

The key for male patients is to get evaluated as soon as the symptoms become apparent. Common symptoms of venous disease include:

• LEG FATIGUE OR HEAVINESS: When legs feel good upon waking but are intensely tired or heavy at the end of the day, this is an early warning sign.
• SWELLING: Swelling can be caused by many things but also serves as a very early warning sign for vein problems. In any case, legs that frequently swell shouldn't be ignored.
• SKIN CHANGES: Redness, skin thickening or other color changes on the legs and/or ankles is a common (and commonly overlooked) symptom. Other skin changes, such as dermatitis, cellulitis, dry or scaly skin, or brown "stains" on the skin can be signs of advanced venous disease and should be evaluated by a physician.
• SPIDER VEINS: Spider veins are blue or purple-colored veins that occur under the skin but are close enough to be seen on the surface. Treating them can improve appearance, as well as stop the progression of venous disease at its source.
• VARICOSE VEINS: Another sign of early-stage venous disease, varicose veins are visible veins in the leg that bulge, often protruding through the skin.
• ULCERS: An open wound on the leg or ankle that fails to heal can be the result of ongoing venous disease. In fact, "venous ulcers" in the leg are often an indication that venous disease has reached an advanced stage.

Venous disease is a progressive disease that is not curable, but for most people, even debilitating symptoms are completely treatable. Today's vein treatments are done on an outpatient basis and are minimally invasive and nearly pain-free. Treatment can stop the progression of venous disease and its complications for those in all stages of the disease; however, early intervention is generally best-tolerated and provides the most improved quality of life. For those struggling with late-stage symptoms, it is still possible to restore health.

 

To learn more about vein treatments for venous ulcers or other vein issues, contact us at the Vein Healthcare Center today to schedule an evaluation. Our goal is to help your legs feel better!

Sclerotherapy 101

Sclerotherapy is used to treat veins just below the skin's surface that are either invisible or difficult to see with the naked eye. In this procedure, tiny needles provide access to the vein and then a substance called a sclerosing agent is injected into the vein's interior wall. This substance causes the vein to become sticky and seal shut, and the troublesome vein disappears. Blood then finds a healthy path back to the heart. There is little risk of complication, and patients often experience an immediate relief of symptoms. 

There are two ways that providers visualize the veins during this procedure: “ultrasound guided” and “light assisted.” Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy uses ultrasound to locate veins that are not readily visible and cannot be seen with a light. This procedure is often used to treat perforator veins, or veins that connect the superficial system (above the muscles in your leg) to the deep system (veins under and between the muscles of the leg).  

During light-assisted sclerotherapy, a small, hand-held light illuminates the veins and tissue directly below the skin, which allows the provider to clearly identify the source of the dysfunction.

The number and length of each treatment vary from patient to patient. Each session can take between 15 minutes and one hour, depending on the complexity of vein patterns and venous reflux. Most patients need multiple treatments (3-6 sessions, on average), however, there is usually improvement with each session.

Here is the question that patients ask the most: “Will it hurt?” Everyone’s experience is different, but most people describe the feeling as quick little bee stings. It is always possible to stop the procedure or take a break if someone does find it very uncomfortable, but most patients say it is very tolerable. The medicine is pH balanced and vein access is with a 27-32g needle, so it’s just a very small perceivable pinch.

Immediately following the procedure, there may be mild itching of the legs, which typically resolves within an hour. For the next few days, there may be some tenderness and bruising. About two weeks following the procedure, there may be hard bumps in the area of the treated vein, which usually disappear over the course of several months.

The most common side effects are bruising and tenderness of the treated veins. The bruising is usually fully resolved within two weeks, and the tenderness responds well to heat and elevation. Remember, patients who follow the post-procedure guidelines for care will promote the most effective healing. Compression stockings should be worn for 7-14 days after each sclerotherapy session, depending on the severity of the venous disease.

The changes that patients notice in the first two months are improvement in symptoms. Patients have reported to that their legs feel lighter or pain free! The large, lumpy veins slowly disappear, usually 2-6 months after the procedure, and the smaller veins may disappear over the following six months. It’s good to remember that as the veins resolve, there may be some color changes in the skin; legs sometimes look worse before they look better. But when they look better, they look great!

To learn more about Sclerotherapy or other vein treatments, contact us at the Vein Healthcare Center today to schedule an evaluation. Education is the first step toward healthy legs!