Spotlight On: Varicose Veins

Are varicose veins more than a cosmetic problem?

While varicose veins may be nothing more than a cosmetic embarrassment for some people, others experience severe leg pain and discomfort, restlessness, heaviness, itching or swelling. John “Fritz” Angle, M.D., —one of several UVA Health System doctors who treats varicose veins—answers important questions about this all-too-common problem. 

Q What are varicose veins?

A. Varicose veins are simply dilated veins under the skin. They are blue serpentine protuberances that look like little soft ropes under the skin. More than 80 million Americans—including nearly 50 percent of women—suffer from venous disorders such as varicose and spider veins. 

Q What causes them?

A. Veins are dependent on a series of valves. If the valves don’t seal like they should, the blood moves back down into the vein again instead of traveling back up to the heart. The vein then has too much blood in it, too much pressure, and it dilates. As the vein becomes dilated, the valve dysfunction worsens, so vein problems tend to worsen over time. 

Q Who gets them?

A. Varicose veins tend to run in families, and they’re more common in women who have had children. They’re not as common in men. We see patients who have them in their 20s and 30s, but even more in patients in their 40s and older. 

Q Why get treated for varicose veins?

A. Treatment can bring relief from discomfort and pain, a restless feeling or heaviness that varicose veins can cause as they worsen. In more severe cases, a person’s leg can swell, particularly around the ankle. Sometimes the skin darkens, and in the most severe cases, the skin may redden, become scaly and develop small sores or blisters. 

Q Why consult a vascular specialist?

A. We specialize in understanding the anatomy and physiology of the entire vascular system. Treating visible veins may be fine in some cases, but in most patients, the trouble begins with the deep venous system, which may need to be treated first. We are glad to see self-referrals, but it usually is a good idea to discuss treatment with a primary care doctor first. 

Q Why choose UVA for treatment?

A. Our venous disease team offers many years of experience, multi-specialty care (including vascular surgery and interventional radiology), the latest technologies available and state-of-the-art imaging for analysis of the venous system.