Just how much do you know about varicose veins symptoms, causes, and treatments? See if you can get 10/10 on our quiz.
1. Which of the following is most likely to cause varicose veins?
a. Crossing your legs
b. Long hours of sitting or standing
c. Genetics
d. Eating fast food
Answer:
c. Genetics. While an unhealthy diet and long hours of being static can increase your risk, genetics is the primary cause of the condition. If someone in your family (particularly your mother or grandmother) had varicose veins, you’ll be predisposed to the condition.
Learn more: Who’s more likely to get varicose veins: the 7 risk factors
2. Which of these people has varicose veins?
a. Person 1
b. Person 2
c. Person 3
Answer
a. Person 1. Varicose veins are big, twisted, and bulging veins most often appearing on the legs and feet. They can be dark blue, green, or fleshy in colour. Person 2’s veins are reddish purple and quite thin, meaning they’re spider veins. Person 3’s veins may protrude slightly above the skin, but they’re straight. These veins are likely the result of body-building: large muscles and little fat can make veins stick out above the skin’s surface. Learn more: Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Feeder Veins
3. Which exercise is NOT good for relieving varicose veins symptoms?
a. Weightlifting
b. Walking
c. Yoga
d. Swimming
Answer
a. Weightlifting. It’s a very strenuous exercise that dramatically increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients your muscles need. As a result, your veins need to work overtime to carry all that blood back to the heart, which can overstrain already weakened vein walls and valves and potentially worsen symptoms.
4. True or False: varicose veins can appear in any of the following places:
True
False
Answer
True. You can get varicose veins in your feet, arms, hands, groin, pelvis, on the back of your knee, and any other place containing veins.
5. Are varicose veins dangerous?
Yes
No
Answer
No. But it’s a tricky question. Varicose veins in and of themselves aren’t considered a dangerous condition. However, if they’re left untreated, they may lead to dangerous complications down the line. These include venous ulcers, varicose eczema, oedema, and even deep vein thrombosis.
6. In which varicose vein treatment is this tool used?
a. Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy (UGFS)
b. Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)
c. Radiofrequency Ablation
d. VenaSeal Medical Superglue
Answer
a. UGFS. Foam Sclerotherapy uses this specialised double syringe to mix sclerosant with oxygen or other gasses to create a foamy substance. In VenaSeal treatments, we either use a regular syringe or the VeaSeal catheter. In liquid sclerotherapy treatments, we also use a regular syringe. EVLA and RFA, meanwhile, are ablation treatments. They require a thin metallic fibre to heat the vein.
Learn more: Non-Surgical Varicose Vein Treatments and Technologies Used
7. Who can treat varicose veins?
a. Phlebologist
b. Vascular Surgeon
c. Interventional Radiologist
d. All of the above
Answer
d. All of the above. Phlebologists like our Dr Zil Yassine, Vascular Surgeons, and Interventional Radiologists like our Dr Jane Li all have qualifications to treat varicose veins through laser ablation and other sealing procedures. However, Phlebologists and Interventional Radiologists don’t always have the qualifications or training to perform vascular surgery. Additionally, Vascular Surgeons working in hospitals may not be able to perform ablation procedures as the hospital may not have the technology for it.
8. Which of the following DOES NOT reduce your risk of getting varicose veins?
Answer
Hot baths. Elevating your legs reduces the strain on your leg veins, which are the most likely to turn varicose. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and flavonoids will keep your vein walls strong. Bathing, meanwhile, won’t do much for your veins. In fact, as veins dilate in hot water, it may be (temporarily) detrimental to your vein valves.
Don’t worry, though. You won’t need to stop taking baths. Varicose veins are a genetic condition. So while bathing can worsen your symptoms if you already have varicose veins, taking a bath every once in a while won’t be the thing to make your valves malfunction.
Learn more: Swollen Legs and Varicose Veins Symptom Relief
9. True or False: everyone with varicose veins will get varicose veins symptoms
Answer
False. Varicose veins are likely to cause itching, swelling, aches, and fatigue. However, some people with the condition may not experience any symptoms. Varicose veins do tend to worsen over time, though, so the earlier you seek specialist advice, the better.
10. What’s the best treatment for varicose veins?
Answer
g. It depends on your vein condition. EVLA and RFA may have success rates of 98%, but they are not suitable for every patient. Additionally, these treatments can’t be used in small varicose veins (unlike sclerotherapy). They also shouldn’t be used on certain large, complex veins. For these, you may need surgical removal through ligation or phlebectomy.
Seek specialist advice
At The Vein Institute, we specialise in treating varicose leg veins. So whether you want to treat a varicose vein or get personal recommendations for symptom management, give our Canberra varicose vein clinic a call at 13 VEINS (that’s 13 83467).
See our other locations and book online: Contact Us | The Vein Institute | Varicose Vein Clinic