Varicose veins myths...

IT’S estimated that a third of the population suffer from varicose veins, but few people really know the inside facts about them. Here we shatter the myths surrounding this common complaint.

A brand new treatment (not widely available) which involves using ‘superglue’ to close the problematic veins.

Foam is injected into the vein to push the blood out and kill the empty vein wall left behind. It only works in smaller veins.

A catheter and heat is used to destroy the faulty vein.

Removal of bulging varicose veins visible under the skin but only once the cause has been treated using one of the above methods.

Uses coils to block off problematic veins in pelvic area.

the genes your parents gave you. In reality, 30% of all adults will be affected by varicose veins, and the condition can strike at any time of life.

“Studies show that by the age of nine, one in 20 girls will have lost valves and will eventually get varicose veins. This rises to one in nine by age 18. But you won’t see the results until later in life.

“Extra weight puts more pressure on the heart, hormones and insulin resistance, but has no effect on your veins. However, overweight people tend to move less, which is why we see more complications.”

An expectant mum who discovers varicose veins will already have had them hidden away before pregnancy, says Prof Whiteley. The increased amount of blood in the body triggered by the pregnancy (an extra two litres) will simply bring them to the surface and make them more obvious.

“After the birth, the veins may become invisible again but they are still there,” he says. The time to treat them is before the next pregnancy, when more problems might occur.

They can occur in any malfunctioning vein below the heart, explains Prof Whiteley.

“Problems in the legs may actually stem from veins around the ovaries or pelvis – which explains why it’s so important to find the root of the problem before tackling the veins.

“If your house is falling down, fix the foundations before you paint it,” he says.

And finally, one piece of good news: “One study suggests that people who have varicose veins tend to have slightly larger coronary arteries – meaning they might be less likely to have a heart attack,” Prof Whiteley adds.

Venaseal