According to the American Heart Association, 23 percent of adults living in America experience varicose veins. Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins, often dark blue in color, located near or raised above the surface of the skin. They are often a symptom of an underlying condition called venous insufficiency. In healthy veins, one-way valves keep your blood flowing in your leg to avoid pooling.
Related Read: What’s the Difference Between Spider Veins and Varicose Veins?
What Causes Varicose Veins?
When one or more of these valves fail to function, your blood can flow in the reverse direction, causing the veins under your skin to engorge and distend. This “backup” of blood flow can increase the pressure in your veins three to four times the normal pressure. This high pressure can causes your veins to bulge and stretch resulting in inflammation, pain and an unsightly appearance.
Did you know that varicose veins may take years to develop which is why many do not notice them until later in life?
Related Read: Vein Treatment at Any Age
What Can I Do About My Varicose Veins?
Whether your goal is to relieve pain or to improve your aesthetics, you have many options for vein treatment and management. Vein centers specialize in the evaluation and treatment of vein disorders. When scheduling a vein center procedure, we encourage our patients to research the accreditation status of our facility. Visit intersocietal.org/vein/main/patients.htm to learn more about our accreditation.
IAC provides accreditation programs for vascular testing, echocardiography, nuclear/PET, MRI, diagnostic CT, dental CT, carotid stenting, vein treatment and management and cardiac electrophysiology. The IAC programs for accreditation are dedicated to ensuring quality patient care and promoting health care and all support one common mission: Improving health care through accreditation®.To date, the IAC accrediting divisions have granted accreditation to more than 14,000 sites throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.