Pregnant? Everything You Need to Know about Varicose Veins!

By Ron E Lev MD – Follow me on +

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also lead to unpleasant side effects like the appearance of varicose veins. These bulging, purple veins typically appear on the legs and may cause uncomfortable symptoms like swelling and achiness in the lower extremities. For many patients, the symptoms of varicose veins may persist long after pregnancy. The good news is there are various ways for treating varicose veins that are minimally invasive and very effective.

Causes of Varicose Veins during Pregnancy

Many changes occur to during pregnancy that can lead to the development of varicose veins. First, blood volume in the body increases by around 30 percent. Veins respond to the increased blood flow by stretching and dilating. Unfortunately, this can also lead to pooling of blood in the lower veins, which can lead to the formation of varicose veins.

The growing uterus and additional weight gain during pregnancy also increase pressure in the veins of the legs, making it harder for those veins to pump blood back up to the heart. At the same time, pregnancy hormones relax blood vessels, and the valves that are responsible for moving blood through the veins have to work that much harder to pump the blood through. This combination of factors sets the perfect environment for varicose veins.

Preventing Varicose Veins

While there is no sure way to prevent varicose veins during pregnancy, there are options for minimizing risk, including:

  • Daily use of support stockings
  • Regular exercise to maintain healthy blood flow
  • Adherence to weight gain guidelines
  • Loose-fitting clothing
  • Sleeping on side to prevent pressure on blood vessels

If you do develop varicose veins during pregnancy, there are options for treating affected veins after your baby arrives.

Treatment for Varicose Veins

At Advanced Varicose Vein Treatments of Manhattan, we offer a variety of varicose vein treatments, including:

  • Venefit / VNUS Closure – uses radio frequency to seal the diseased vein closed
  • VenaCure – laser treatment that collapses affected vein
  • ClariVein – uses innovative combination of mechanical agitation and sclerotherapy
  • Sclerotherapy – injects solution directly into vein that causes it to seal shut
  • Ambulatory Phlebectomy – removal of affected vein through tiny incisions in the leg

With many options available, our team can customize treatment to a patient’s specific needs. Your varicose veins don’t have to continue to plague you after pregnancy. Contact Advanced Varicose Vein Treatments of Manhattan to learn more about your choices in vein treatment today.

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