What varicose veins say about your blood pressure?

Varicose veins are large red, blue or even flesh coloured veins that are often swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. They are caused by nerves within the veins being weak or damaged which can cause blood to leak back into the veins and collect there resulting in the vein becoming bigger.
But did you know that the majority of the symptoms associated with varicose veins are actually caused by an underlying venous circulatory problem called ‘Venus Hypertension’ or high blood pressure in the vein.
Veins have one-way valves and they are the reason why our blood can go up from our feet to our heart. When we are stood on our feet, the veins flatten forcing the blood upwards through the one-way valves into the calf muscles. When we step these calf muscles flex – again flattening the veins and forcing the blood further upwards.
Unfortunately, these valves in the calf can break over time. When stood upright, gravity applies a downward pull on the blood inside the veins which can cause them to break. When one valve breaks, this puts pressure on the valve below as it increases in size. Eventually, when the majority of the valves break inside the veins it can then cause pressure to rise and this is what is known as Venous Hypertension. When this pressure starts to rise, it can raise the pressure in the branch veins causing more valves to break. Varicose veins start to appear when the branch veins bulge through the skin giving a lumpy appearance.

How can I prevent varicose veins?

Living a healthy lifestyle is key to improving blood pressure, and in return reducing your chances at developing varicose veins. Factors such as being overweight, long periods of inactivity, smoking, old age, leg injury, pregnancy, or unfortunately being female can increase the risk for varicose veins. We recommend that you avoid long periods of sitting or standing. Take regular breaks and move around at least every 30 minutes. Raise your legs for around 15 minutes throughout the day to improve blood circulation. Exercising regularly can improve your circulation aside from maintaining a healthy weight.
How can I treat varicose veins?

• EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) is a minimally-invasive method of destroying dysfunctional varicose veins. The treatment locates the damaged vein with ultrasound, before using laser heat to collapse the wall of the vein and destroy the cause of the problem. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and yields speedier recovery times, as well as better success rates, than traditional vein stripping. This treatment is considered by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to be the best method for vein removal and is our number one choice for treating veins; however we do also offer some alternative treatments;
• VenaSeal is a closure system that uses medical adhesive to close varicose veins. It is ideal for those who have a needle phobia as it only requires one injection per vein. The medical adhesive seals the vein shut, the blood is re-routed through other healthy veins located deeper within the leg and the original varicose vein is gradually absorbed by the body.
• Sclerotherapy is ideal for smaller veins, it involves injecting a chemical into your varicose vein which damages it and results in the vein closing.
• Phlebectomy is where the varicose vein is removed via tiny punctures or incisions being made.

During your consultation, your vascular surgeon will go through your options and help you decide which treatment is best for you. As per NICE guidelines, we do not offer vein stripping which requires a lengthy recovery period and does not have as effective results as our other treatments.

Varicose Vein Removal at The Private Clinic

We are the UK’s leading authority in non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures and have some of the most experienced doctors in the industry working with us. All our varicose vein removal procedures are performed by highly qualified senior vascular surgeons and we have carried out amongst the highest number of EVLA procedures in the UK. Our success rate of over 95% has earned us a reputation as one of the leading clinics in our field for the treatment of varicose veins.

• The least invasive method for varicose veins and thread veins removal treatment for your legs, body and face.
• Our Consultant vascular surgeons are pioneers in EVLA(Endovenous Laser Ablation) and have treated thousands of patients.
• No lengthy downtime or recovery required.
• The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) Gold Standard for treatment of Varicose Veins findings show that the success rate after five years for EVLA is 95.4%.
• A consultation with one of our Consultant Vascular Surgeons costs £150, including a free ultrasound scan of your legs (usually priced between £350 and £450 at most clinics and private hospitals).
• We focus on the underlying cause of your veins and you will only see a Consultant Vascular surgeon for varicose veins.
• We have treated thousands of patients who have regained their confidence whilst avoiding health issues.
• Treatment takes one hour, you can go home shortly after being treated.
• Owing to our success, we have been featured on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies , TLC’s My Naked Secret and featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends for 2019.
• We have carried out over 7,000 procedures in treating Veins.
• View our varicose vein before and after photo gallery.
• Read our extensive varicose vein FAQs.
• Hear from previous patients in our varicose vein patient stories.
• Find out more in our varicose vein blogs.
• Download our varicose vein treatment brochure.

Varicose Vein Consultations are available at; London Harley Street,Bexhill, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Northampton.
Expert Vascular Surgeons

• Mr Constantinos Kyriakides, MD, FRCS(Gen). GMC 3275436
• Mr Dynesh Rittoo, MBChB, FRCS(Eng), FRCS(Gen Surg). GMC 3556456
• Mr Charles Ranaboldo, BM, FRCS, MS. GMC Number: 2939195
• Professor Rajiv Kumar Vohra, MBBS. GMC Number: 3158700
• Mr Tahir Hussain, MBBS,MS, FRCS. GMC Number: 3242669
• Mr Rajiv Pathak, MBBS, MS, FRCS, FRCS(Gen). GMC Number: 4585309
• Mr Ferdinand Serracino-Inglott, MD, FRCSI, FRCS(Gen), DIC MSc. GMC Number: 5206200

To find out more about varicose vein removal or to book a consultation please contact us on, 0333 920 2471 or use our Varicose Vein online contact form.