Varicose Veins And Pregnancy

Varicose Veins are a progressive problem affecting 80 million American. Actually about 25 % of the adult population has varicose veins and more than half of these have a family history of them. This often painful condition develops when blood pools in the veins, stretching and twisting them. Women are affected four times more than men. Patients usually notice the onset of varicose veins between the ages of 20-35. Varicose veins have been noted to increase with age. Overweight people have a greater tendency to develop them. Prolonged standing, sitting, leg crossing and long hot showers are other aggravating factors.

Pregnancy and Varicose Veins.

Varicose veins are a common occurrence during pregnancy and they will become larger and more painful with each pregnancy. Many women say that one of the first signs of pregnancy is a feeling of discomfort in the legs with enlargement of the veins. After childbirth, most of the pain and swelling will subside, however the varicose veins will never return to normal. Almost 70 percent of women develop spider veins during pregnancy. They begin to develop within a few weeks of conception. The majority of these spider veins will disappear between three and six months postpartum.

Causes and Complaints

Besides heredity, there are other factors that are implicated in producing varicose veins during pregnancy: hormones, increased blood flow, weight gain and increasing pressure from the enlarging uterus. Hormonal influences during pregnancy significantly weaken the strength of the veins. The end result is stretching of the vein to the point where it can no longer channel blood up the leg against gravity back to the heart. This leads to common complaints of leg cramps, excessive tiredness, pain, swelling, heaviness, itching and tingling in the legs at the end of the day. Support stockings and leg elevation helps empty the veins by moving the blood out of the leg thereby relieving the discomfort. Walking has a similar effect.

What can help?

Everyone who has varicose veins, with or without complaints, should wear support stockings throughout their pregnancy. Those with a strong family history or significant spider veins should consider wearing them at least during the last four months of pregnancy. There is no need to wear the support hose while sleeping or when keeping your legs elevated. Straining during bowel movements causes hemorrhoids, a form of varicose veins and puts increased pressure on the leg veins. Avoid prolonged standing without support hose. Elevate your legs while sitting for long periods and don’t cross them. Typically, Vein problems do not go away but get worse with time.

Medical Treatment of Varicose Veins

Although there are exceptions when complications, such as phlebitis, occur treatment should not be carried out until the pregnancy is over and breast feeding has been completed. Its better , if possible, to delay definitive treatment until no more pregnancies are anticipated. Compression stocking worn daily will alleviate the symptoms and prevent the varicose veins from getting worse. This is the most conservative way to manage the problem, however patients do not enthusiastically embrace the idea of compression hose for life. It is very important to get your “history” established in the chart of your OB or family physician. Then, later when you are looking for therapy, there is a history or pattern of varicosities and their pain that has been previously established. This has become criteria for insurance coverage in many plans. Traditional vein “stripping” which required hospitalization, general anesthesia, and prolonged recovery times is no longer needed. This traditional approach has been replaced by newer, more advanced, and less disfiguring techniques. Today, even the largest of varicose veins can be removed safely and easily in the office under local anesthesia. No hospitalization, No general anesthesia, and no large scars.

VEINHELP with newer, advanced, and more effective techniques is the solution to your vein problems. The VEINHELP Clinic at Southpoint has been serving North and South Carolina for over 6 years. Some of our patients drive 2, 3 and 4 hours or more to get the latest, most advanced techniques available anywhere in the country. The techniques we use included sclerotherapy, ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy, ligation and excision, and both the laser and radio-frequency versions of the endovenous catheter techniques.

As seen on the Today Show (NBC) and Good Morning America (ABC), the Endo-Venous Catheter procedures are far superior to traditional vein stripping with results that are rewarding and instant. The Endo-Venous Catheter treatments have virtually replaced all traditional vein stripping procedures. Dr. John Mauriello is a National Board Member of the American College of Phlebology. Specializing in vein therapy since the mid 1980’s, our medical director is a nationally recognized speaker on vein therapy. Get the VEINHELP you need, call for a consultation today.

Final note: If you are pregnant, and develop varicose veins with leg swelling, speak to your physician about compression stockings to reduce pain and discomfort prior to your delivery.