9, 10, 2015

What’s So Great About the Great Saphenous Vein?

2022-04-24T23:30:58-07:00

Great Saphenous vein and short saphenous vein

The great saphenous vein (GSV), previously referred to as the long saphenous vein, is a superficial leg vein that runs from the top of the thigh near the groin, down the inner thigh all the way to the inner ankle. The top blue arrow in this diagram points to the location of the great saphenous vein.

The Great Saphenous vein is responsible for varicose veins about 80% of the time. When varicose veins appear in the inner thigh or calf areas, the GSV is often the culprit (see picture). The other superficial vein is largely responsible for varicose veins in the small saphenous vein. The small saphenous vein (SSV) runs along the back of the calf. The SSV was previously referred to as the short saphenous vein. Varicose veins on the backside of the leg are often caused by leaky valves within the small saphenous vein.

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What’s So Great About the Great Saphenous Vein?2022-04-24T23:30:58-07:00

9, 9, 2015

30, 3, 2015

What are varicose veins and spider veins?

2021-11-04T14:40:52-07:00
7after_fotor

Spider veins are like varicose veins but smaller. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spiderwebs with their short, jagged lines. This patient had large clusters bluish colored spider veins around the knee (see top picture). These were treated with sclerotherapy injections at La Jolla Vein Care (after picture on bottom). To see how sclerotherapy works, go to La Jolla Vein Care’s Youtube channel.

DSCF2383_fotor

Varicose veins are bulging, twisted veins located just under the skin. This is a before and after picture of a patient who was treated at La Jolla Vein Care with radiofrequency ablation and foam sclerotherapy to dissolve the varicose veins. There are no surgical incisions with these treatments.

Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are enlarged veins that can be blue, red, or flesh-colored. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They can be swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are often found on the thighs, backs of the calves, or the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins can form around the vagina and buttocks.

Spider veins are like varicose veins but smaller. They also are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spiderwebs with their short, jagged lines. They can be found on the legs and face and can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.

 

What are varicose veins and spider veins?2021-11-04T14:40:52-07:00

7, 1, 2015

How To Reduce Discomfort From Varicose Veins

2021-11-04T14:48:25-07:00

How To Reduce Discomfort From Varicose Veins:stp

Varicose and spider veins may be treated with lifestyle changes or medical procedures.

The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and for some to improve appearance.  Lifestyle changes can ease the symptoms but do not cause the veins to vanish.  These include:

  • Avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time:  To keep blood moving when you have to sit or stand for long periods, try these tips: at work, take walking breaks and try walking during your lunch hour. While sitting, try flexing your feet up and down 10 times an hour. When standing, raise yourself up and down on your toes or rock back and forth on your heels.
  • Exercise: Exercising is good for your veins because it improves blood flow. Walking, cycling or swimming are great exercises for vein health. But be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.
  • Weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight puts extra pressure on your veins.
  • Leg elevation: Use leg elevation three or four times a day for about 15 minutes at a time. Even elevating your legs on a step stool or ottoman is beneficial. If you need to sit or stand for a long period of time, flexing (bending) your legs occasionally can help keep blood circulating. If you have mild to moderate varicose veins, elevating your legs can help reduce leg swelling and relieve other symptoms.
  • Compression stockings: These elastic stockings squeeze or compress the veins and prevent blood from flowing backward. Compression stockings must be graduated, medical-grade compression to be beneficial. Over-the-counter support hose or TED hose are not adequate to reduce symptoms in venous disease for active patients.
  • Supplements such as horse chestnut and grape seed extract can help reduce symptoms of venous disease
  • Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen
  • ice packs can be applied to veins that are tender to reduce inflammation
How To Reduce Discomfort From Varicose Veins2021-11-04T14:48:25-07:00

29, 12, 2014

Choosing Between Anti-Embolism & Compression Stockings

2021-11-13T12:56:13-08:00

Choosing Between Anti-Embolism & Compression Stockings

Anti-embolism stockings, also known as TED hoses, are designed specifically for non-mobile patients or those confined to a bed. These are the white stockings used for hospital patients. They are low-cost temporary solutions commonly used for patients in nursing homes and post-surgery to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Graduated Compression Stockings

Graduated compression therapy provides external support to the vein walls and works in conjunction with the calf muscle pump. Compression stockings improve circulation while helping to minimize and control leg and ankle swelling.

Anti Embolism Stockings Vs Compression Stockings

However, for ambulatory (walking patients who are not bed-bound), TED hoses do not offer sufficient support to counter the effects of gravity.  They have not graduated compression and only offer about 8-18mmhg compression. TED hose does not help the symptoms of venous disease and varicose veins. TED hose cannot be used for vein treatment and should not be used for daily support in walking patients.

In comparison, graduated compression stockings are medically therapeutic and designed for people who are mobile. Graduated compression means that they are tightest around the ankle and gradually ease as they go up. These can help reduce the risk of DVT in patients who travel by plane or car and reduce symptoms such as leg swelling (edema), aching, heaviness, fatigue, pain from varicose veins, and useful for pregnant women to reduce pain from varicose veins.

Choosing Between Anti-Embolism & Compression Stockings2021-11-13T12:56:13-08:00

Does Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Cover Compression Socks?

2014-12-04T01:16:06-08:00

Does Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Cover Compression Socks?

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Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Cover Compression Socks and Stockings www.compressrx.com

Compression socks and compression stockings are considered medical garments that are typically covered expenses Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).  Some FSA and HSA programs expire at the end of the year.  Consider stocking up on  daily compression socks and stockings or even give them as gifts. FSA and HSA cards are accepted at Compressrx.com

 

Does Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Cover Compression Socks?2014-12-04T01:16:06-08:00

27, 11, 2014

Thanksgiving Foods That Improve Vascular Health: Chocolate, Wine and Cranberries

2014-11-27T00:07:26-08:00

How Chocolate, Wine and Cranberries Are Good For Veins

Foods that are rich in flavinoids may improve symptoms of venous disease. Flavonoids help protect plants from environmental toxins and help repair damage. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. When we eat foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research shows that flavinoids have other potential influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.Flavinoids are also well known for their ‘venoactive’ effects on the blood vessels and have been proven to reduce symptoms of venous disease such as leg aching, heaviness and swelling.

Foods that are flavinoid rich include cocoa and chocolate, cranberries, apples, peanuts, onions, tea and red wine.

Remind the cook to use compression socks- long hours of standing in the kitchen can cause leg fatigue, heaviness and swelling.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Foods That Improve Vascular Health: Chocolate, Wine and Cranberries2014-11-27T00:07:26-08:00

What Are Vein Valves?

2021-11-04T14:10:40-07:00
GSV valve 2

The valves inside the leg veins can be seen on ultrasound. The arrow points to a valve in the great saphenous vein within the leg.

healthy_and_diseased_valves

Leg veins have one-way valves that prevent blood from flowing backward. Diseased valves are ‘leaky’ and allow blood flow both forward and backward, eventually causing bulging of the veins, i.e., varicose veins.

In the circulatory system, the veins carry de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. The leg veins carry blood toward the heart, against gravity. Therefore, the leg veins have one-way valves the prevent backflow of blood. When the valves do not function properly, they allow blood to flow backward, causing the pooling of blood. This is referred to as venous reflux or venous insufficiency. Eventually, the backflow of the blood will cause varicose veins to develop and symptoms related to the increased pressure in the leg veins such as leg heaviness, aching, swelling, restless legs, night cramps, throbbing, and pain. 

What Are Vein Valves?2021-11-04T14:10:40-07:00

15, 10, 2014

Muscle Hernia or Varicose Veins?

2022-01-04T04:16:53-08:00

Muscle herniations of the legs frequently are confused with varicose veins. Patients may present with bulging along the outer part of the shin, that looks like a varicose vein. It may or may not be painful. It goes away with flexing the foot (pointing your toes to your head).  But, to experienced vein care specialists, it is clearly a muscle herniation.

A Muscle herniation is a focal protrusion of muscle tissue through a defect in the deep fascial layer. Anterior tibial muscle is the most commonly affected muscle of the lower extremities because its fascia is the most vulnerable to trauma. Clinically it is characterized by asymptomatic or painful, skin-coloured, soft, subcutaneous nodules of various size depending on the position. The diagnosis is usually made clinically based on its typical manifestations, but ultrasonographic examination is useful for detecting the fascial defect and excluding other conditions caused by soft tissue tumours such as lipomas, angiolipomas, fibromas, schwannomas, or varicosities.

Usually, surgical treatment is not needed, but may be necessary for increasingly painful hernias.

At La Jolla Vein Care, we frequently see muscle herniations that are confused with varicose veins. Using ultrasound technology and a clinical examination, we can make the accurate diagnosis.

Muscle Hernia or Varicose Veins?2022-01-04T04:16:53-08:00

Inherited Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)

2014-10-07T16:16:43-07:00

The Factor V Leiden mutation is one of the most common inherited genetic mutations, causing blood clotting disorders. It is found in 4% to 6% of the U.S. population.

If someone has one copy of this genetic mutation (heterozygous), they are considered a carrier of the mutation.  A carrier has an approximate 3 to 6 fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism.  If a person carries two copies of the genetic mutation (homozygous) their risk of a blood clot is much higher, and many of these patients will be on lifelong blood thinners. This risk is increased when exposed to other risk factors such as pregnancy, oral contraceptives, immobility, and surgery.  If you are Factor V Leiden, the doctor may recommend a blood thinner during varicose vein treatment. It is important to talk with your doctor about your history or family history of blood clotting disorders, to better reduce your risk of a blood clot when undergoing any type of procedure or surgery.

 

Inherited Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)2014-10-07T16:16:43-07:00
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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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