What causes Varicose and Spider Veins?

Leg cramps are painful, involuntary contractions of the muscles in your legs, specially the thighs and calves. A painful leg cramp originating in the calves is known as a “charley horse.” While most people experience leg cramps occasionally, frequent leg cramps are often symptomatic of other factors, such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or vein problems.

If you drink enough water and eat a diet with sufficient potassium and magnesium, your frequent leg cramps are probably symptomatic of chronic venous insufficiency. Furthermore, you can identify leg cramps caused by vein disease if they worsen at the end of the day or wake you up in the middle of the night. Our vein centers in Long Island will determine if you have underlying vein disease and recommend the ideal treatment for leg cramps.

Leg swelling is a condition wherein your legs appear swollen. This can be caused by numerous underlying factors, such as high salt intake, heart failure, kidney failure, and vein problems. Chronic venous insufficiency, a condition wherein blood accumulates in your leg veins, is one of the most common root causes of leg swelling (besides high salt intake).

Leg swelling caused by vein disease often worsens at the end of the day or after long periods of sitting or standing still. Leg swelling is also associated with tightness and discomfort in your legs. It can also cause hyperpigmentation, chronic skin discoloration, and hair loss. Our spider vein and varicose vein centers in Long Island identify and treat the root cause of leg swelling to ensure long-lasting relief.

Numerous factors increase your likelihood of spider veins and varicose veins. Genetic predisposition is one of the leading risk factors for spider veins. If your mom and dad have a history of vein problems, you’re likely to get spider veins at some point. Additionally, estrogen and progesterone (female hormones) are more likely to cause spider veins. As such, you’re more likely to get spider veins if you’re female, especially if you’re also pregnant or undergoing hormonal changes. The risk of spider veins also increases if you have an occupation that involves long periods of sitting or standing for long periods, such as a desk job, teaching, nursing, driving, etc.

Varicose veins have similar risk factors as spider veins, especially since both are symptomatic of chronic venous insufficiency. If your mother and father have a history of vein problems, you have a high risk of varicose veins. If you have a job that involves sitting or standing still for long periods, you have a high risk of varicose veins. You also have a higher risk of varicose veins if you’re female, taking birth control pills, or undergoing hormone therapy. All of these factors increase the risk of vein problems. If you notice spider veins or varicose veins, please schedule an appointment at our spider vein and varicose vein centers in Long Island. Our vein doctors will diagnose and treat the root cause of your vein problems.