FEATURED NEWS Varicose Veins: Measuring Your Risk Your height may play a role in how likely you are to develop  Spider & Varicose Veins: Causes, Before and After Treatment Images By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter Newsletters! MONDAY, Sept. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- How tall you are might play a part in whether you are unlucky enough to develop varicose veins, a new study suggests. Every additional 4 inches in height increases your risk of varicose veins by about 25 percent, said researcher Dr. Erik Ingelsson, a professor of cardiovascular medicine with Stanford University School of Medicine. "We have pretty robust evidence that height is actually causally related through genetics with increased risk of having varicose veins," Ingelsson said, though the study did not definitively prove causality. Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, gnarled veins that can be seen just below the surface of the skin. They are often dark purple or blue in color, and most frequently appear on the legs. Varicose veins do not increase a person's risk for heart attack or stroke, explained cardiologist Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of NYU Langone's Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health in New York City. "They're generally a benign condition," said Goldberg, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. But these veins can become achy, itchy or painful, and can contribute to swelling of the legs due to fluid retention, she added. Varicose veins affect up to 25 percent of women and 15 percent of men, according to the Vascular Disease Foundation. How do varicose veins develop? Veins are designed to quickly shoot blood back up to the heart, with one-way valves that encourage blood flow, Goldberg said. When these one-way valves start to fail, blood can start pooling the veins, causing them to swell and stretching the vein walls. It's been known that there are genetic factors involved in development of varicose veins, Ingelsson said. A family history of varicose veins makes it more likely you'll develop them as well. To explore potential risk factors for varicose veins, researchers analyzed the health of more than 413,000 people aged 40 to 69 across the United Kingdom. This included a screen of genetic markers for more than 337,000 of those participants, including nearly 9,600 with varicose veins. Researchers confirmed a series of known risk factors, including age, gender, obesity, pregnancy and history of deep vein thrombosis (when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs). But when they sorted people by height, they found that those in the tallest quarter of folks were 74 percent more likely to develop varicose veins than the shortest quarter of people. Further, the researchers linked genes that determine a person's height to their risk for varicose veins. The researchers also found a strong genetic correlation between deep vein thrombosisand varicose veins. It's possible that height puts additional strain on veins trying to return blood to the heart, Ingelsson said. "If you're taller, you have higher pressure downwards on your veins," he said. "The veins are pushing the blood back up to the heart. If you're tall, that creates more pressure." Tall people can help reduce their risk of varicose veins by wearing compression socks, especially if they spend a lot of time on their feet, Goldberg said. Varicose veins that have become very unsightly or uncomfortable can be safely removed through laser surgery, she added. "In cases where these veins are irritated, itching, infected or contributing to swelling, you really should see a vascular specialist because you may be a candidate for a vein procedure to help eliminate the varicose veins," Goldberg said. The study was published Sept. 24 in the journal Circulation. Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Erik Ingelsson, M.D., Ph.D., professor, cardiovascular medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif.; Nieca Goldberg, M.D., medical director, NYU Langone's Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health, New York City; Sept. 24, 2018, Circulation CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR RELATED SLIDESHOW Spider & Varicose Veins: Causes, Before and After Treatment Images Spider and Varicose Veins Spider veins and varicose veins are common conditions that affect many adults. These abnormally enlarged vessels, which affect women more often than men, appear most often on the legs and become more prevalent with age. Spider veins and varicose veins affect up to 50% of the adult population. The following slideshow will highlight the important facts about spider veins and varicose veins, with accompanying pictures to better understand what they look like, what they are, and how to treat them. What Are Spider Veins? Spider veins (also called telangiectasias) are clusters of tiny blood vessels that develop close to the surface of the skin. They are often red, blue, or purple; and they have the appearance of a spiderweb. They are commonly found on the face and legs. What Are Varicose Veins? Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged veins that appear most often on the legs. They are typically blue, purple, or skin-colored; and they appear as dilated, twisting and bulging vessels that may be raised above the surface of the skin. What Causes Spider and Varicose Veins? Spider veins and varicose veins are caused by structural abnormalities of blood vessels. Veins carry blood back to the heart from other parts of the body. They utilize a series of one-way valves to avoid backflow of blood. For a variety of reasons, these valves can become defective, allowing the backflow of blood within veins. The subsequent pooling of blood and pressure increase within the vein, and weakens the blood vessel wall. Spider veins and varicose veins then develop from the engorgement and dilation of the affected blood vessels. Who Gets Spider and Varicose Veins? Spider veins and varicose veins are very common in adults, though women tend to develop them more frequently than men. There are a variety of different risk factors that increase the chances of a person getting spider veins and varicose veins. Risk factors include advanced age, prolonged sitting/standing, obesity, pregnancy, hormone therapy (HT), birth control pills, injury, prior vein surgery, a history of blood clots, and a family history. Spider/Varicose Vein Symptoms Spider veins and varicose veins often cause no symptoms or signs other than their undesirable cosmetic appearance. However, certain individuals may experience problematic symptoms from varicose veins. Symptoms may include swelling, throbbing, aching, burning, itching, heaviness, tingling, or cramping of the legs. These symptoms often worsen after prolonged sitting or standing. Individuals can also develop a brown discoloration of the skin and skin ulcers. Spider and Varicose Vein Complications Though spider veins and varicose veins rarely cause serious complications, some individuals may develop skin ulcers. These open wounds usually appear on the lower leg, and they may sometimes lead to soft tissue infections. Some individuals with varicose veins can also develop blood clots within the veins (superficial thrombophlebitis). Localized bleeding from varicose veins also can occur. Spider and Varicose Vein Diagnosis Your health care professional can diagnose spider veins and varicose veins by closely examining the affected areas, which are usually on the legs. The exam will consist of a visual inspection, and palpation of the areas of concern. Special attention will be given to areas of redness, swelling, skin discoloration, and skin ulcers. Though most cases of spider veins and varicose veins do not require treatment, those individuals who develop complications should seek medical care and treatment. The treatment of spider veins and varicose veins also is sought for cosmetic reasons. There are various measures that can be used at home to help alleviate some of the symptoms should they develop. These conservative measures also can help prevent any potential complications. Treatment: Support Stockings Support stockings, also called compression stockings, are an easy intervention to use at home to help alleviate symptoms in the legs. Compression stockings improve circulation by increasing the pressure in the legs. These stockings come in a variety of styles and compression strengths. Your health care professional can recommend the proper pair for you. They are typically sold in drug stores and medical supply facilities. Treatment: Lifestyle Changes A regular exercise program and weight loss can help relieve the symptoms of spider veins and varicose veins. Affected individuals should avoid standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time, and elevate the legs while sitting or sleeping to improve the circulation and decrease swelling in the legs. Treatment: Sclerotherapy Sometimes the conservative management of spider veins and varicose veins at home may not yield the desired results. In these cases, more specialized medical procedures may be available, depending on the location and size of the abnormal veins. These medical procedures are often undertaken for cosmetic reasons. Sclerotherapy is a common procedure that can be performed in your physician’s office, and it is very effective in eliminating the majority of spider veins and some varicose veins. During this procedure, which requires no anesthesia, your physician will inject a liquid solution directly into the affected vein, which causes the vein to collapse and eventually fade away. Several sessions may be required for optimal results. Potential side effects include bruising, swelling, bleeding, infection, and skin discoloration. Sclerotherapy: Before and After Treatment with sclerotherapy can require multiple treatment sessions, and healing time may vary from individual to individual. Generally, spider veins will begin to fade within three to six weeks after treatment, while varicose veins may require several months to respond. Treatment: Laser Therapy Laser therapy is another alternative medical procedure that also can be performed in your physician's office. It is sometimes used as a complement to sclerotherapy in order to maximize results. It is most effective for spider veins and tiny varicose veins. For those individuals who do not like needles, this provides an alternative option, though your physician will counsel you on which treatment modality is best given your particular situation. Laser therapy uses a focused beam of light that heats and damages the affected blood vessel, which eventually fades. Potential side effects include minor redness or swelling around the treated area, skin discoloration, blisters, and rarely scarring. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is a recently developed treatment for spider veins. IPL delivers pulses of different bands of light to targeted areas. Laser Therapy: Before and After As with sclerotherapy, several sessions are frequently necessary for optimal results with laser therapy. Resolution can take anywhere from several weeks to several months after treatment. Treatment: Vein Surgery Surgery is an option for more severe cases of varicose veins. Your physician will discuss with you the various surgical procedures available in order to help you determine which treatment is optimal for varicose veins. One of the surgical procedures available is vein ligation and stripping, which involves cutting and tying off the affected vein (ligation) and surgically removing (stripping) it through small incisions in the skin. Vein Surgery: Before and After Vein ligation and stripping is frequently successful at resolving both the symptoms and cosmetic appearance of varicose veins. This procedure is done under local, spinal, or general anesthesia in a hospital or outpatient surgical center. An overnight stay is rarely necessary. Full recovery from this procedure usually takes about two to four weeks. Potential complications may include infection, bleeding, scarring, nerve injury, a deep vein blood clot, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Treatment: Endovenous Laser Endovenous laser treatment is a minimally invasive surgical procedure which involves the emission of laser light through a thin fiber inserted into the affected vein, causing the vein to contract. Endovenous laser treatment has a 98% initial success rate. This procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia or using light sedation. Patients report less pain and a faster recovery time with endovenous laser treatment when compared to vein ligation and stripping. Treatment: Radiofrequency Ablation Endovenous radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that is similar to endovenous laser treatment. Instead of using a laser light, a catheter is inserted into the vein and using radiofrequency energy, the affected vein is heated and contracts. As with endovenous laser treatment, patients report less pain and quicker recovery times compared to vein ligation and stripping. Preventing Spider and Varicose Veins Although spider veins and varicose veins may not always be entirely preventable, there are various measures you can take to reduce your chances of developing them. Prevention tips include: exercising regularly, maintain a healthy weight, avoid prolonged sitting or standing, avoid crossing your legs while seated, elevate your legs when resting, and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing around your waist, groin and legs. Reviewed by Robert J. Bryg, MD on 5/3/2016 Sources:  This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information:  © 1996-2018 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. Source slideshow at OnHealth CONTINUE SCROLLING FOR RELATED SL varicose veins. READ MORE