Varicose veins are signs of underlying vein disease, also known as venous insufficiency. Vein disease occurs when your vein valves are continuously under strain and begin to malfunction. This process can lead to varicose veins and other venous conditions like spider veins and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

1. What Causes Varicose Veins?
If you suffer from the effects of varicose veins, you may wonder what
causes them to develop in the first place. Varicose veins are enlarged,
bulging, visible veins often accompanied by pain or discomfort. They
usually appear on the legs, ankles, and feet but can also affect other
areas of the body.
Common varicose vein symptoms include:
 Heaviness or achiness in the legs
 Itchiness
 Discomfort
 Leg cramps (especially at night)
 Skin discoloration
Below, we discuss what causes varicose veins in legs, what causes
varicose veins on ankles, how to keep your varicose veins from getting
worse, and why vein treatment can help prevent dangerous health issues.
If you have additional questions, we recommend consulting a vein
doctor.

2. What Causes Varicose Veins in Legs, Ankles, and Feet?
Varicose veins are signs of underlying vein disease, also known as
venous insufficiency. Vein disease occurs when your vein valves are
continuously under strain and begin to malfunction. Dr. Yan Katsnelson
shares his knowledge on the subject, stating, “This makes it challenging
for your heart to pump blood against gravity efficiently. Instead, blood
begins to pool in your lower extremities, such as your legs, ankles, and
feet.”
This process can lead to varicose veins and other venous conditions like
spider veins and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Although varicose veins
can appear in other areas of the body, the legs are the most common site
affected.

3. Common symptoms of vein disease include:
 Swelling in the legs and ankles
 Tired, aching legs
 Burning in the calf or thigh
 Leg pain that feels better when you walk or raise your legs
 Itchy, dry skin
 Numbness or tingling sensations
 Difficulty standing for long periods
 Non-healing wounds on your legs
It is important to understand that vein disease can place you at risk for a
number of serious health conditions, including venous ulcers and blood
clots.
Venous ulcers are open, non-healing wounds that usually develop on the
lower legs or around the ankles. When left untreated, they can lead to
serious infection.
Common signs of venous ulcers include:
 Itchy, scaly, dry skin on the legs
 Hardened skin around the ulcer
 Heavy feeling in the legs
 Red, purple, or brown color on the skin
 Swollen and enlarged veins on the legs
 Cracked or dry skin that may open up
 Swollen ankles
 Unpleasant and foul-smelling discharge from the ulcer
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a dangerous type of blood clot in the deep
venous system, can also occur. The deep venous system refers to veins
located deep within the body.

4. Common signs of DVT include:
 Leg pain
 Swelling
 Tenderness
 Warmth
 Redness or skin discoloration
 Cramping in the calf
If you experience any of the above DVT symptoms, seek medical
attention as soon as possible. If a piece of a blood clot breaks off, it can
travel through the bloodstream to the lungs. This can lead to pulmonary
embolism, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate
emergency care.
Common signs of pulmonary embolism include:
 Rapid heart rate
 Difficulty breathing
 Coughing up blood
 Feeling lightheaded or faint
 Chest pain or discomfort that worsens with a deep breath or cough
If you experience any of the above pulmonary embolism symptoms, call
911 immediately or head directly to the nearest emergency room.
Risk Factors for Varicose Veins
While exploring what causes varicose veins and their potential
consequences, you may also want to consider your individual risk
factors. The good news is that certain risk factors can sometimes be
controlled with lifestyle changes. The bad news is that other risk factors
are beyond your control.

5. Common risk factors for varicose veins include:
Genetics: Family medical history is a key component behind the
development of varicose veins. If you have a parent or close relative
with vein problems, you are more likely to develop them. If both of your
parents have varicose veins, your risk further increases.
Age: As with many health conditions, your risk for developing varicose
veins increases as you get older. Although varicose veins are more likely
to appear after age 50, plenty of younger people are affected.
Sex: Women are four times more likely to develop varicose veins. This
may be in part due to pregnancy being another risk factor.
Pregnancy: Due to increased blood flow and an influx of hormones,
pregnant women are more likely than others to be affected.
Prolonged sitting or standing: Do you have a job where you are on
your feet or sitting in a chair for hours each day? If so, you are at higher
risk for developing vein disease.
Excess weight: If you are obese or overweight, you are more likely to
experience symptoms of varicose veins. This is because excess weight
puts additional strain on your veins, causing damage.
Inactivity: Along with weight gain, inactivity can affect your blood
circulation and lead to problems with your veins.
Smoking: This unhealthy habit can weaken veins and reduce blood
flow. It can also contribute to a range of serious health conditions like
heart and lung disease.
High blood pressure: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can result
in strained vein valves. This can lead to the development of varicose
veins.

6. If you have underlying risk factors for varicose veins, you may benefit
from close monitoring by a vein specialist. Our doctors can make
personalized recommendations on lifestyle modifications that may
benefit you, along with discussing your treatment options when
necessary.
How To Keep Varicose Veins From Getting Worse
As mentioned above, certain lifestyles and health factors can increase
your risks of developing vein disease. Now, you may be wondering what
causes varicose veins to get worse. Many of the same factors that cause
varicose veins can also worsen symptoms. While varicose veins don’t
typically go away on their own, there may be some things you can do to
maintain the status quo.
These include:
 Managing your weight
 Exercising regularly
 Avoiding prolonged periods of standing or sitting
 Quitting smoking
 Controlling your blood pressure, along with other underlying
health conditions
 Elevating your legs when possible
 Talking to your doctor about wearing compression socks
 Consulting a vein specialist to learn about minimally invasive vein
treatment
At USA Vein Clinics, our board-certified vein doctors are highly
experienced professionals who care about your quality of life.

7. Minimally Invasive, Office-Based Vein Treatment
The reality is that you can’t always control the development or
worsening of varicose veins and their symptoms. This is where the relief
of vein treatment comes in. At USA Vein Clinics, we offer a variety of
effective vein treatment options. Our experts aim to reduce varicose vein
symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
“All of our treatments are minimally-invasive, office-based procedures.
Although recommended approaches vary, they all work by sealing off
diseased veins and diverting blood flow to the surrounding ones,” shares
Yan Katsnelson, M.D.
Most treatments take only 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of
veins involved. Afterward, you can leave immediately and return to
normal activities. You may be advised to wear compression stockings
for a couple of days to several weeks.
Our minimally-invasive vein treatment techniques include:
Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT)
Endovenous Laser Therapy is considered the gold standard for treating
varicose veins and vein disease symptoms. During the EVLT procedure,
your doctor inserts a thin laser fiber into the affected vein while using
ultrasound for guidance. Then, they use lasers to heat the fiber and close
off the malfunctioning vein.
ClariVein® Treatment
ClariVein®, or mechanochemical ablation, is a catheter-based treatment.
The unique catheter involved has a rotating tip at one end. It
simultaneously uses mechanical and chemical methods to treat damaged
veins.

8. Visual Sclerotherapy Injections
Small varicose or spider veins can be treated with Visual Sclerotherapy.
A sclerosant solution is injected through a tiny needle into the affected
vein with this method. The solution intentionally irritates the inside of
the vein, causing it to swell and seal shut.
Varithena Vein Treatment
This foam-based treatment is usually used to treat vein conditions in the
Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) and surrounding areas. During this
procedure, ultrasound guides a small needle or catheter into the diseased
vein. Then, Varithena foam is injected, which ultimately causes the vein
to collapse.
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy uses live ultrasound imaging to treat
varicose veins near the skin’s surface. During the procedure, a sclerosant
solution is injected, which irritates and closes off affected veins.
In some cases, multiple treatments or more than one treatment method
may be recommended. For personalized recommendations, we suggest
visiting one of our leading vein specialists.

9. Varicose Vein Treatment at USA Vein Clinics
If you are tired of living with pain, heaviness, itching, burning, and
swelling associated with varicose veins on legs, our vein treatment
specialists are available to help. At USA Vein Clinics, we are passionate
about developing an individualized care plan for each of our patients.
To learn more, simply schedule an appointment online or call
888.768.3467. You can visit one of over 100 clinic locations nationwide
or opt for a convenient telemedicine consultation.
No matter what causes varicose veins, minimally invasive, outpatient
vein treatment may be the solution.