Varicose veins are damaged veins. Faulty valves, which should push blood forward and up toward the heart, aren’t able to keep the blood moving forward. Instead, the blood flows backward for a time, pooling behind the broken valve, a condition known as venous reflux. The excess blood balloons and twists the vein.

Even though most people associate varicose veins with the legs, you could develop a varicose vein almost anywhere. In fact, hemorrhoids are a kind of varicose vein that develops in the rectum.

Vein expert Jeffrey Gosin, MD and our team treat varicose veins at Shore Vascular and Vein Center in Somers Point, New Jersey. Although lifestyle factors, such as standing for long periods of time, increase your risk for varicose veins, they’re also associated with medical conditions.

If you have varicose veins, don’t dismiss them as being a mere aesthetic issue. We diagnose and treat varicose veins to make your circulatory system healthier. We also refer you to other specialists if your varicose veins are caused by:

Excess weight or obesity

When you’re overweight (a BMI of 25-29) or obese (BMI over 30), the extra pounds put added stress on your blood vessels. Even gaining weight during pregnancy can damage the valves.

Every pound in your body translates to four pounds of pressure on your legs. So, if you’re just 10 pounds overweight, you’re actually subjecting your veins (and joints!) to about 40 pounds of pressure. 

The good news is, when you lose the weight, you also alleviate the excess pressure. While you may feel proud of shedding those excess 50 pounds, you’ll feel even prouder when you realize you’ve taken 200 pounds off your joints and veins.

If you’re having trouble achieving a healthy, stable weight, talk to us. We can make lifestyle recommendations that help you lose weight and preserve the health of your veins. We also refer you to a weight-loss specialist, when necessary.

High blood pressure

Obesity and high blood pressure tend to go hand-in-hand. But whether you’re a healthy weight or not, if you have high blood pressure, you’re subjecting your blood vessels to extra stress. When it takes more effort to push the blood through the valves, the valves are more likely to deteriorate over time.

High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, is known as a silent killer because it rarely has symptoms. That’s why annual physicals are so important. We check your blood pressure when you come to Shore Vascular and Vein Center, and we work with your healthcare team to ensure that you improve your cardiovascular health and lower your pressure.

Deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a dangerous condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that’s deep in your muscles. Usually DVTs appear in a calf or thigh, but can also form in your pelvis or even an arm.

With DVT, a clot can break off and travel to your lungs, causing a life-threatening condition called a pulmonary embolism. One study showed that people with varicose veins were five times more likely to have DVT than those who didn’t have varicose veins. 

Remove faulty veins

Your varicose veins don’t allow your circulatory system to function optimally. Dr. Gosin removes abnormal varicose veins with a variety of treatments, depending on how large they are:

• Lifestyle changes
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Microphlebectomy

If you have varicose veins, improve the appearance and health of your legs by calling us today at 609-297-5992, or use the handy online contact form.