Myths About Varicose Veins - "Varicose veins are only cosmetic and can safely be left alone"
Varicose Veins are the bulging blue or green veins seen through the skin of the legs.
As these are the veins that can be seen on the surface, people (and many doctors) think that these visible varicose veins - or varices - are the problem.
They are not.
These visible varicose veins are not really the problem in themselves. They are only there as a sign of the underlying problem that the Leg Pump is not working properly. As with any pump in the body, or anywhere else for that matter, if the pumping action isn't working then effects will be seen - and will worsen as the pump fails more. This is explained in this website, in the "How Veins Work" pages.
To think of varicose veins as the main problem when you have them is like thinking that the problem with getting measles is only the spots. Of course measles are caused by a virus and if you want to cure measles you have to defeat the virus - treating the spots alone has no effect at all.
In the same way, varicose veins are caused by Leg Pump Failure and so treatment should be aimed at fixing the Leg Pump. This cannot be seen on the surface - hence the need for the special tests of Duplex Ultrasound and PPG (PhotoPlethysmography). With these tests, when performed by specialists, a vein expert can tell everything they need to know about a patient's veins in order to get a good result.
Correct treatment will get rid of the varicose veins but, much more importantly, will also make the Leg Pump properly again.
Fixing the vein pump reduces the risks of the symptoms of Leg Pump Failure coming back again (i.e. varicose veins, aching legs, venous eczema, lipodermatosclerosis and venous leg ulcers). To understand more about these symptons see www.legulcers.co.uk.
Mark Whiteley talks about whether Varicose Veins are only cosmetic and can safely be left alone
