Several factors can increase the risk of developing varicose veins. Many women find themselves first noticing these visible, sometimes painful veins, developing during pregnancy. If they had varicose veins beforehand, they may be growing worse. What is it about pregnancy in particular that is such a risk factor for varicose veins? The vascular physicians in Orlando at Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center have the answer.
Varicose veins develop when your vein valves are damaged or weakened. The veins then struggle to push blood upward through the leg, causing it to pool in the vein. Excess pressure can also affect circulation. When you’re pregnant, your growing uterus puts pressure on the inferior vena cava, or the large vein on the right side of your body. In turn, this puts excess pressure on your leg veins.
The excess pressure is already enough to cause discomfort, but this isn’t the only factor putting stress on your veins. Your veins are working in a very challenging environment. Pregnancy increases the amount of blood in your body, so your veins have more blood than normal to work with, and your progesterone levels rise as well, relaxing your blood vessels. Altogether, veins struggle to keep up.
Unfortunately, varicose veins tend to be more common with consecutive pregnancies. Women often find that their veins actually worsen with each pregnancy. But once your body settles down after giving birth, your veins often improve. However, if they don’t, treatment is available to help your legs get back to what they were before the baby.
Varicose vein treatment is simple. Depending on the state of your veins post-pregnancy, endovenous laser treatment may be the right option. This procedure has become the gold standard for minimally invasive vein treatment. It involves a specialist inserting a small catheter into the vein and then applying heat to close it, so the vein seals shut and directs the blood to other, healthier veins. For other women, topical laser treatment may be ideal. This noninvasive treatment involves using micro-bursts of lasers to stimulate your body’s natural healing processes, lessening the appearance of veins so that you can feel confident about your legs’ appearance. The best part of treatment? If done by a medical professional, insurance carriers will generally cover the costs.
If you’re currently struggling with varicose veins that didn’t disappear after a pregnancy, consider visiting a vascular physician in Orlando. Our team at Central Florida Vein & Vascular Center is dedicated to delivering a treatment plan that will be best for your venous health. From your first phone call to post-treatment follow-ups, you can be sure that we’ll  answer your questions and give you the best possible treatment every step of the way. You can schedule a consultation with one of our specialists by calling 407-545-3385 or 352-658-5547.
