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18, 6, 2020

What Causes Varicose Veins?

2022-01-03T13:11:26-08:00

WHY ME?

Who gets varicose veins and why.

Both women and men can develop vein disorders at any age.  It can affect the healthiest of individuals, but there are some conditions that increase your risk of developing varicose veins.  They are mostly inherited; if both of your parents had varicose veins, you have a 90% chance of also having them.  Other factors that increase your chance of developing vein disorders include being female, hormonal changes, pregnancy, getting older, having a job that requires many hours standing or sitting, being overweight, and history of leg injuries.

  • Increasing age. As you get older, the valves in your veins may weaken and not work as well.
  • Heredity. Being born with weak vein valves increases your risk. Having family members with vein problems also increases your risk. About half of all people who have varicose veins have a family member who has them too.
  • Hormonal changes. These occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Taking birth control pills and other medicines containing estrogen and progesterone also may contribute to the forming of varicose or spider veins.
  • Pregnancy. The hormones during pregnancy greatly influence the leg veins. Varicose veins can even be a symptom of pregnancy and can show up during the first trimester. As pregnancy progresses, there is a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body. This can cause veins to enlarge. The growing uterus also puts pressure on the veins. Varicose veins usually improve within 3 months after delivery. More varicose veins and spider veins usually appear with each additional pregnancy.
  • Obesity. Being overweight or obese can put extra pressure on your veins. This can lead to varicose veins.
  • Lack of movement. Sitting or standing for a long time may force your veins to work harder to pump blood to your heart. This may be a bigger problem if you sit with your legs bent or crossed.
  • Leg Injuries
What Causes Varicose Veins?2022-01-03T13:11:26-08:00

Park and Wait Check-In For Your Next Appointment

2020-09-17T21:35:44-07:00

As part of our Vein Care Reimagined initiative, we offer Park and Wait Check In or Curbside arrival for your next appointment. This allows you to remain in your vehicle while you wait for a scheduled appointment while the staff prepares an exam room for your visit. Between each visit, exam rooms are cleaned thoroughly following stringent hygiene procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

How this works:

When you arrive to Scripps Ximed and safely park, text us that you have arrived.

We will then prepare your room, and will text you it is ready, and to come up.

You will immediately be brought back to the room that has been prepared for you. This eliminates lobby wait times. Make sure to bring your mask with you as you will not be permitted inside the building without a mask. Prior to your appointment, our staff will ask COVID screening questions to make your visit as safe as possible.

Park and Wait Check-In For Your Next Appointment2020-09-17T21:35:44-07:00

What Causes Spider Veins?

2022-01-03T12:57:11-08:00

Spider veins refer to the abnormally enlarged, bluish or red-colored small blood vessels at the surface of the skin. They often appear in clusters, where they get the name ‘spider veins’ because of their spider like appearance. They also may appear in a starbust pattern. Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, occur when blood pools in veins near the surface of the skin. They can be caused by heredity, being female, obesity, trauma, and fluctuations in hormone levels. In many cases, the exact cause is not known. They tend to become more numerous with age, and are common among people over 30 and in pregnant women.

Spider Vein
Spider veins can be cosmetic, but may indicate an underlying condition. When spider veins appear around the inner ankle and inner thighs, this may indicate an underlying problem, called venous reflux in saphenous vein which are not visible to the naked eye. Ultrasound can determine if there is underlying venous reflux. Spider veins may also cause symptoms. Itching is a common symptom. Some patients complain of burning, stinging and pain sensations. The reason for the itching and other symptoms is because spider veins can be associated with inflammation. The inflammation in turn, can cause symptoms. Spider veins are most commonly treated with sclerotherapy.

What Causes Spider Veins?2022-01-03T12:57:11-08:00

Foam Treatment for Varicose Veins Is Not New

2020-09-18T01:53:21-07:00

 

Foam treatment of varicose veins is not as new as people think. It was originally described as early as 1944.  Foam sclerotherapy is a method for treating varicose veins. It involves injecting a foamed sclerosant medication into unhealthy varicose veins, causing them to eventually dissolve.

image of foam sclerosant

Foam Sclerosant Medication used for foam treatment of varicose veins has a ‘frothy’ foam appearance.

In 1944, E.J. Orbach introduced the concept of a macro bubble air-block technique to enhance the properties of sclerosant in performing macrosclerotherapy.  Apparently, few vascular surgeons were interested in the subject and the technique languished.  The work of Juan Cabrera and colleagues in Spain attracted attention of some vein specialists and interest in the use of foam technology in treating venous insufficiency was reawakened. Administration of foamed sclerosant was reintroduced in the early 1990s by Cabrerra, who summarized a broad experience in 1997. By the 1990’s, broad use of diagnostic ultrasound imaging made it possible to monitor foam distribution with ultrasound scanning. Some 40 years earlier, and before the development of ultrasound scanning, foam had been used in Germany to treat varicose veins.  At that time, foam was made by special syringes and its distribution was assessed by touch, instead of ultrasound scanning.

Tessari , prior to the year 2000 developed an easy way of making liquid sclerosant into foam using two syringes and a three-way stop cock.

Foamed sclerosant inside a vein: Once foam is introduced into the vein, it is hyperechogenic on ultrasound. In this picture taken in 2009, Dr. Bunke points to the foamed medication inside the vein. Notice it appears ‘white

Foamed sclerosant inside a vein: Once foam is introduced into the vein, it is hyperechogenic on ultrasound. In this picture taken in 2009, Dr. Bunke points to the foamed medication inside the vein. Notice it appears ‘white

By 2000, Sica was able to report a three-year experience using foamed sclerosant in treating saphenous varices.  Since that time, foam has appeared increasingly in general use. Around 2000, Dr. John Bergan began describing the utility and success of foam treatment to physicians in the United States and can be attributed to bringing its awareness to North America. Over the past decade foam has gained world-wide popularity for the treatment of varicose vein tributaries  in place of surgery. In 2013, Varithena foam was FDA approved to treat the great saphenous vein and its accessories with foam sclerotherapy.  Dr. Bergan predicted that microfoam sclerotherapy will eventually replace all other methods.  Presently, it is most commonly used as an adjunct to endovenous ablation of the great and small saphenous veins or as a sole treatment for surface varicose veins. Since Dr. Bunke was trained by Dr. John Bergan, thousands of patients have been treated successfully with foam sclerotherapy at La Jolla Vein Care. Additionally, our office manager Anna, spent time in Spain with Cabrera’s team in observation of how varicose veins were treated with foam.

 

Foam Treatment for Varicose Veins Is Not New2020-09-18T01:53:21-07:00

What to Expect After Saphenous Vein Ablation

2021-11-05T10:57:18-07:00

After a vein ablation procedure, such as radiofrequency or laser ablation, it is normal for your leg to feel swollen. The swelling is the fluid that was placed around the vein called a tumescent anesthetic. You will feel the swelling in the location where the vein was treated. If the vein in the thigh was treated, your thigh will feel swollen. If the vein on the back of your calf was treated,  the calf will feel swollen. The tumescent will slowly be absorbed by the evening or the next morning.

Applying gauze inside of your stocking

Apply Gauze Inside of Your Stocking

Sometimes, the tumescent will leak out from the tiny needle puncture sites. For this reason, we will apply gauze inside of your stocking. At night before going to bed, reach in and pull out the gauze and throw it away. It only takes one drop of blood to make the gauze look blood-tinged. This is also normal and nothing to worry about.

Before going to bed, remove the ace bandage that overlies your stocking. You will wear the stockings overnight (for 72 hours to be exact). If your stocking causes foot pain or leg pain, or numbness in the toes, please remove your stocking during the night and sleep without it. It may be too tight. Call us in the morning so we can further advise.

What to do when the leg feels sore and achy?

leg feels sore and achy

On the evening of the procedure, your leg may also feel sore and achy. When it starts to throb, get up and walk. This usually helps it to feel better. Ibuprofen or Tylenol are helpful to reduce discomfort. You can also apply ice, by placing ice in a zip lock bag and applying the cold to the sore areas on the leg. You do not need to sleep with your legs elevated, but may do so if this is more comfortable.

When you are sitting for longer periods, such as watching a movie at night, elevate your legs.

To avoid blood clots, walk frequently throughout the day. A rule of thumb is to walk at least 30 minutes, twice a day. There is no limit to walking. After your procedure, you will be asked to walk 30 minutes around campus prior to getting into your car. This will help get the blood circulating and stimulate the tumescent to be absorbed.

What to Expect After Saphenous Vein Ablation2021-11-05T10:57:18-07:00

30, 5, 2020

Best Exercises for Varicose Veins

2020-09-18T18:53:02-07:00

Physical activity provides a wide range of benefits for vascular health and may help to avoid evolution of mild cases of varicose veins. In fact, exercise is considered to be a fundamental element in improving the symptomatology of patients affected by varicose veins. A sedentary person diagnosed with this medical condition has a much higher risk of worsening the symptoms when compared with an active person with the same condition. This is a result of blood pooling in the veins, causing an increase in venous hypertension and symptoms.

The main goal of exercise in regards to varicose veins is to contract and move the muscles of the leg, helping to pump the blood upwards, avoiding edema or retention of liquid in the ankles. With this in mind, the recommended exercises are those with aerobic characteristics rather than those with anaerobic ones. Through this physical activity, the pressure in the veins is improved, as well as the resulting symptomatology.

Therefore, any exercise that involves moving the lower limbs and promote cyclical muscle contractions is advisable, including stand on tiptoes, move the toes, perform foot bending and rotation, do pedaling movements, among others. These can be easily performed throughout the day without the necessity to go out and exercise, and are especially useful during work hours or while doing daily tasks at home.

When walking or running, pressure is exerted on the sole of the foot, which causes the circulation to be activated from the bottom up, while the constant contraction of the muscles during cycling causes the same effect, but without the presence of high impact, an important factor for those with joint issues.

Swimming is one of the best exercises to practice when affected by varicose veins. The double effect of the water and the movement of the lower limbs cause an incredible increase in blood circulation. This is helpful also for patients who have significant symptoms related to the effects of gravity, like standing.

Other disciplines like yoga, pilates, or rhythmic gymnastics also help stimulate circulation by mobilizing the accumulated blood in the thighs, while relaxing the whole body.

Hiking is a great activity for using the calf-muscle pump. However, in warm weather, symptoms of varicose veins worsen. To get the maximal benefit of exercise and reducing symptoms, outdoor exercising when the weather is cooler, like in the morning is advised.

Best Exercises for Varicose Veins2020-09-18T18:53:02-07:00

Venous Reflux is a Progressive Condition, Worsens Over Time

2021-12-31T14:18:52-08:00

6 Chronic Venous Insufficiency Stages

Venous reflux disease is also known as venous stasis, venous insufficiency, or venous incompetence. Venous reflux disease refers to “leaky valves” in the veins of the legs. Venous reflux may occur in the deep and/or superficial leg veins. The deep veins are those within the muscle; they bring at least 80-90% of the blood from the legs back to the heart. The superficial veins are outside of the muscle and under the skin. The main superficial veins are the Great Saphenous Vein that courses up the middle of the thigh and calf and the small saphenous vein, which courses up the back of the calf. Normally, there are one-way valves within the leg veins, which help blood flow in one direction: toward the heart. This means blood is traveling against gravity. The calf muscle also helps move blood toward the heart. When vein valves are leaky, blood flows backward (reflux) towards the feet. Blood pools in the lower legs, causing bulging veins at the surface. Symptoms include leg heaviness, leg fatigue, leg pain, ankle swelling, phlebitis (inflamed and painful veins) restless legs at night, and night cramps. Venous reflux disease is progressive and worsens over time. Skin changes may also develop, including darkening of the skin around the ankles. The darkening of the skin is sometimes referred to as venous stasis skin changes. The skin can become dry and itchy (venous eczema). Eventually, the skin can break down causing a wound, called a venous leg ulcer.

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 1. Healthy Veins, Stage 2. Spider Veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 3. reticular veins and varicose veins

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 4. Venous Nodes - Edema venous insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 5. Chronic insufficiency

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

Stage 6. Venous eczema and venous leg ulcer

Venous Reflux is a Progressive Condition, Worsens Over Time2021-12-31T14:18:52-08:00

We’re Open: Extended hours, Curb-side check-in, & Virtual Visits

2020-09-18T19:08:55-07:00

We’re Open

Resuming In-office Services

La Jolla Vein Care has been actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our patient care and office protocols.  Our highest priority is to continue providing the highest standard in vein care in a safe environment for our patients and staff.  We have created and implemented a strategic plan using best available practices to minimize the risk of person-to-person COVID-19 exposure in our practice.  These guidelines are in compliance with all State, Local, and CDC guidelines and guidance of the CMA, California Department of Public Health, Center for Disease Control.

While we continue to encourage virtual visits and at-home mobile ultrasound diagnostics, our office has re-opened for medical necessity treatments and for those who require in-office visits. Medical necessity conditions include complications from venous reflux disease and varicose veins such as thrombophlebitis (blood clots), vein hemorrhages, venous leg ulcerations (open leg wounds), and symptoms that interfere with one’s ability to work or maintain daily activities such as leg pain, heaviness, throbbing, swelling and night symptoms that interfere with rest such as restlessness and night cramps.

Cosmetic spider vein treatments are postponed until a future date.

 

SAFETY

We want you to know that our first concern has always been the safety and care of our patients and our team. Although the coronavirus pandemic is new to many of us, infection control is not new to healthcare. For decades, OSHA has mandated that medical practices follow the strictest guidelines in infection control.  In order to put your mind at ease we at La Jolla Vein Care want to share with you some of the practices we employ to ensure our patients that our office is one of the safest places you can be.

  • Less appointments will be scheduled throughout the day so that there will be minimal people in the lobby, with little or no wait time.
  • We’re extending our hours and offering after-hours appointments to minimize the number of patients in office at a given time.
  • Curb-side check in. If you prefer, you can wait in your car and we will text you when we are ready to room you. We recommend this for patients checking in prior to procedures.
  • Prior to every visit, we will ask you screening questions, to ensure symptomatic or at-risk patients reschedule their appointments to avoid community spread.
  • You must wear a mask or cloth facial covering to be permitted into the building. You will be provided with a mask and asked to wear it while in our office. You also will beasked to disinfect your hands with hand sanitizer. Please note only the front entrance is open at the Scripps XiMED building. There is currently no third-floor access via the parking structure.
  • Our staff are required to wear masks for your protection.
  • When you enter our waiting room you will notice that some chairs have been removed in accordance with national social-distancing recommendations.
  • We are eliminating coffee service, snacks and water coolersfrom our waiting area to reduce chance of community transmission.
  • Daily, we are screening our staff and following CDC guidelinesregarding staff members who are ill or may have been potentially exposed to COVID-19
  • As a medical facility, we have always had a policy of sanitizing any surface after each patient encounter – but we are increasing our vigilance and frequency of disinfecting during this time.
  • Please fill out any forms electronically if able and return them prior to your appointment.
  • If you need to fill out any forms or sign consents, we have single use pens.
  • We encourage Virtual optionsand mobile ultrasound at-home visits when possible.

 

We want to assure you that we are taking every precaution to make La Jolla Vein Care a place where you can feel safe and comfortable receiving the best possible care. If you have any specific questions, please call us. We look forward to seeing you at your next visit. We hope at this time that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

 

Stay connected to learn more about some exciting changes and how we are redefining vein care in 2020, Vein Care ReimaginedTM

 

We’re Open: Extended hours, Curb-side check-in, & Virtual Visits2020-09-18T19:08:55-07:00

How to make compression stocking application a cinch!

2022-01-04T04:40:52-08:00
Stocking Troubles? Tips, tricks, and an easy guide to living in harmony with compression stockings
Applying stockings with ease:

  1. Turn your stocking completely inside out
  2. Locate the smaller foot hole of the stocking and tuck the foot in until you reach the heel
  3. Place your thumbs on either side of the tucked in foot hole, with the heel located on the bottom
  4. Put your foot in the stocking until the heel of the stocking has met your heel
  5. Grab the larger hole or top of the stocking (it should be hanging off your foot) and pull the stocking up onto your leg
  6. Inch and pull the stocking until it has reached either below the crease of your knee for knee highs, or the highest portion of your thigh for thigh highs.
  7. If your stockings slide or have trouble staying up, there is stocking glue that can be applied to the skin.
How to make compression stocking application a cinch!2022-01-04T04:40:52-08:00

26, 4, 2020

Warm Weather Worsens Leg Symptoms

2020-08-19T01:00:26-07:00

Warm weather can worsen symptoms of varicose veins and venous reflux disease.

This weekend, most of San Diego was blessed with sunny, warm-weather. Warmer weather tends to worsen symptoms of varicose veins, like increased leg heaviness, pain or you may feel that your legs fatigue more quickly during warm weather. For those who have spider veins, they can feel more itchy or burning.  This leads many people to seek leg vein help during warmer months.

The cause: Leg symptoms of varicose veins and venous reflux disease (the underlying cause for varicose veins) tend to worsen in warmer weather because heat causes the surface veins to relax and enlarge. When this happens to unhealthy veins, the blood pools and causes increased pressure within the veins. Increased pressure within in the veins is called venous hypertension. Venous hypertension causes inflammation. Therefore, inflammation causes the veins to feel warm, painful, itchy or burning. Since gravity causes blood to pool around the ankles for many people with venous reflux disease, you may feel symptoms in your ankles rather than the calfs. The skin around the ankles can become itchy, and dry. The best way to alleviate this in the long term is treatment of underlying venous reflux. Conservative management is aimed at reducing or preventing the blood from pooling. This can be accomplished with compression stockings- these may be difficult to tolerate in warm weather. Staying active helps, and when sitting elevate the legs and ice any areas of pain to reduce inflammation.

Warm Weather Worsens Leg Symptoms2020-08-19T01:00:26-07:00
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© Copyright 2010-2025, La Jolla Vein & Vascular | All Rights Reserved

CONTACT INFORMATION

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

Privacy Policy

Hippa Privacy Practices
HIPAAOneTM Certified Seal 2

Use the search features below to find articles and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

© Copyright 2010-2024, La Jolla Vein & Vascular | All Rights Reserved

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