In this article, Dr. Jeff Braxton and Dr. David Lopresti, two of the best Sun City vein doctors on our staff at Comprehensive Integrated Care, help you understand the differences between these two conditions. This will help you to make the best decisions possible on how to seek the best vein disease treatment near you.

One of the first things to look for to tell the difference between varicose veins and spider veins is the size of the vein

Spider veins tend to be very small and fine, less than 1 millimeter in diameter. They may, in fact, be so small that they are difficult to see when they first appear. They stretch for only a few inches before branching off. They are typically red or purple in color, and typically do not protrude above the surface of the skin.

Varicose veins, on the other hand, are much larger, both in terms of length and width. They are typically 4 to 5 millimeters in diameter, blue in color, and they tend to protrude above the surface of the skin.

Additional things to consider are how the veins are shaped, and where they are located

Spider veins form branching patterns that look similar to a spider web or the roots of a tree. They tend to clump together in web-like clusters (thus the name), but sometimes form “nests” that resemble a bruise. Spider veins usually form on the legs, especially behind the knee. However, they also may appear on the neck, face, ankles, and other areas of the body.

Varicose veins do not form webs or clumps, but they do typically bulge out of the skin in twisted, ropy patterns. They primarily appear on the legs, ankles, and feet. When these bulging veins first appear, they feel soft to the touch. As the disease progresses they may become hard and tender.

Spider veins and varicose veins are both types of vein disease

Both of these conditions are caused by the reflux (backwards) flow of blood through the veins. Both are symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). CVI causes the tiny, one-way valves in the veins to malfunction, fail to close properly, and become “leaky.” When this happens, blood flows back into the veins and pools there, causing them to swell.

There are also differences in how spider veins and varicose veins affect your overall health

In most cases, spider veins are considered simply an aesthetic problem, and pose few health risks. While their unsightly appearance may cause self-consciousness, they do not have a major impact on your overall level of health.

Varicose veins, on the other hand, are often associated with more serious problems. Left untreated, they are more likely to cause symptoms such as pain, chronic weakness or tiredness, leg swelling, and changes to the texture of the skin covering them. Some people experience considerable pain as a result of their varicose veins. This pain is often dull and throbbing (as opposed to sharp). It becomes worse if you sit or stand in the same position for long periods. This can result in chronically swollen, achy legs, and can make it extremely difficult to walk or exercise.

If left untreated, varicose veins can progress to advanced stages with even more serious symptoms. Blood pooling in the veins can lead to thinning, color change, and texture change of the skin. This can lead to changes in skin color and texture. In extreme cases, it might result in bleeding leg ulcers. Sluggish blood flow can also raise your risk for blood clots, including the potentially dangerous type of clot known as deep vein thrombosis.

The differences in how varicose veins and spider veins are treated

Naturally, there are differences in varicose vein treatment and spider vein treatment as well. Our Sun City vein doctors treat both conditions in a minimally invasive manner. However, we use the procedures that are most effective at addressing each problem. For example, we often treat small, fine spider veins with sclerotherapy, the injection of a chemical agent that causes the vein walls to seal shut. On the other hand, we may treat larger varicose veins with endovenous laser treatment or radiofrequency ablation. These procedures use heat or high-frequency energy to seal shut larger veins, redirecting blood flow and eliminating pressure.

At Comprehensive Integrated Care, we focus on finding the most appropriate form of treatment for your individual vein problems. Whether you’re suffering from spider veins, varicose veins, or both, we can diagnose and treat the problem.

While these two forms of vein disease are different, they are similar in that both can be treated quickly, easily, and without discomfort. If you’re ready to take the next step in treating your vein disease, get in touch with our Sun City vein clinic at 888-377-7122. Or, go online on this website to schedule an appointment. The best vascular specialists in Arizona are waiting to assist you.

The post Spider Veins vs. Varicose Veins – the Best Sun City Vein Doctors Explain How to Recognize the Difference appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

When we ask these patients why they didn’t seek varicose vein treatment in Sun City sooner, before their symptoms became so distressing, the response is often, “I waited because I didn’t want to have cosmetic surgery.”

As doctors considered by many to be the best vein doctors in Sun City, we’ve written this article to educate our readers about this all-too-common misunderstanding. We want people to know that varicose veins are NOT “just a cosmetic problem”. What’s more, treatment by a qualified vascular expert is NOT what they think of as “cosmetic surgery.”

OK, varicose veins ARE unattractive, but they’re also a real problem

The widespread belief that varicose veins are “purely a cosmetic concern” and thus aren’t to be taken seriously is dangerously false. So is the belief that you can easily “live with them” just by keeping your legs covered and pretending that the ugly, swollen veins aren’t there.

Doctors rarely consider varicose veins medically dangerous in themselves. But the condition that causes them (chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI) is very much a real disease. It can impair your circulatory and immune systems. The swollen, discolored veins that you see on the surface of your skin are signs that your veins are not working properly beneath the surface. This affects many aspects of your overall health.

Left untreated, varicose veins DON’T go away, or “get better on their own.” They get worse. The first symptoms you’ll experience will likely be that your legs feel tired and weak all the time. Sometimes you feel like you can no longer stand or walk easily. Next, your legs and ankles can become painfully swollen, further reducing your mobility.

And all of these symptoms still aren’t the worst of the dangers posed by varicose veins. Left untreated, varicose veins impair your immune system, so that you are at a higher risk of developing more serious diseases.

Varicose vein damage is not just physical

Varicose veins not only erode your physical health. Trying to “live with them” also erodes your sense of self-confidence and well-being. People with varicose veins often tend to become isolated. They might avoid friends and family because they’re so concerned about their appearance. Some people might actually end up fighting depression.

So what should you do if you have varicose veins?

You should seek a consultation from the best vascular specialists in Sun City. The many advances made in medicine have made it possible for vein specialists to diagnose and determine the extent of vein disease in less than an hour.

They do this by performing a painless, non-invasive venous health screening that takes only about an hour. These exams can determine very quickly whether you have varicose veins and the condition that causes them – chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

If you do, the diseased veins can be eliminated in about the same length of time – less than an hour – using painless, minimally-invasive varicose vein treatment options. These procedures are so safe that they can be performed in the comfort of your local Sun City vein clinic. These procedures will improve your appearance, so in that sense they are “cosmetic.” Most varicose veins can be eliminated quickly and permanently, so you’ll feel better about how you look.

More important, however – and why we recommend these procedures – you will very quickly begin to feel better, because the underlying vein disease is no longer sapping your strength and causing you pain.

So how do I find out more about varicose vein removal (for health reasons or cosmetic reasons)?

It’s simple – just pick up your phone and call Comprehensive Integrated Care at 888-377-7122 and schedule an appointment with vascular specialists such as Dr. Jeff Braxton and Dr. David Lopresti. If you have vein disease, the doctor can explain the different treatment options to you, and help you to choose which ones are best for you.

But the most important “first step” is to make that phone call. Schedule that first appointment. After that you’ll be able to relax, because you’ll have the best vein doctors in Sun City working to improve your health and your appearance.

The post Best Vein Doctors in Sun City Explain Why Vein Disease Is Not ‘Just A Cosmetic Problem’ appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

What types of women’s health treatments does Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers specialize in?

One of the most important women’s health issues we focus on is the treatment of uterine fibroids – growths that develop in the wall of the uterus that are non-cancerous, but can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and swelling of the abdomen. A minimally-invasive IR procedure that we specialize in called Uterine Artery Embolization can be quite effective in closing arteries that give rise to these fibroids, and thus the pain and discomfort they cause. We are considered some of the best physicians in the area at offering uterine fibroid treatment options in Phoenix.

Another area of women’s health that we specialize in is infertility, in particular blockages of the Fallopian tubes. This condition can often be corrected with a minimally-invasive IR procedure called Fallopian Tube Recanalization.

Last – but certainly not “least” because an estimated one-third of American women suffer from the constant pain of it – is pelvic congestion syndrome. To treat this condition we offer an IR procedure that can locate and eliminate the abnormally dilated blood vessels that cause the pain. These swollen vessels – called ovarian vein or pelvic varices – are not easily located during an external examination, but can often be found and treated using IR techniques.

At Comprehensive Interventional Care Centers, we are proud of our contributions to women’s health

If you suffer from any of the conditions mentioned above, please see the more in-depth articles we’ve provided on our website at www.ciccenters.com for more information on these specialized treatments. Or just give us a call at 888-377-7122 and make an appointment to come in and see us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The post How the Best Liver Cancer Doctors in Phoenix Use Their IR Skills To Treat Women’s Health Problems appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

Because these varices are internal, diagnosis of them can be tricky, requiring the use of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or pelvic venography to locate the abnormal veins. If tests reveal that the source of the patient’s chronic pelvic pain comes from these swollen veins, the resulting condition is called pelvic congestion syndrome also known as chronic pelvic venous disorders. Fortunately, there are several available pelvic pain treatment options in Phoenix.

How are chronic pelvic venous disorders treated at CiC?

Treatment is performed in our state-of-the-art outpatient surgical facilities in Phoenix. The patient is usually awake during the procedure, after the areas being treated have been numbed with a local anesthetic. Then some of the best interventional radiology doctors in Phoenix insert a catheter into a large artery in the groin and guide it into place using X-ray fluoroscopy. A contrast dye may be injected during this procedure to make it easier to see the varices being treated. Finally, an embolizing agent is injected through the catheter to close the abnormal veins, while not affecting healthy tissue in the area.

How do I find out if I’m a candidate for this procedure?

Give one of the top pain management centers in Phoenix a call at 888-377-7122 and schedule a consultation with one of our interventional radiology specialists. They will perform a series of tests to see what the cause of your pelvic pain is, and if it is due to pelvic varices, will explain the treatment procedure to you in more depth. You can also find out more about this procedure and other high-end women’s health procedures we offer by looking through our website at www.ciccenters.com.

The post Pelvic Pain Treatment Options in Phoenix – What is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, and How Do We Treat It? appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.

For us, this is an important area of medical specialization that is all too often underrepresented. So focusing on conditions that specifically affect women was a necessity and a calling to fill for such specialization.

Since IR procedures are less intrusive than traditional surgeries, requiring fewer and smaller incisions, less anesthesia, and much less recovery time, we are easily matched in our particular area of expertise as interventional radiologists to address many of the health problems that affect women.

What types of women’s health treatments do some of the best interventional radiology doctors in Phoenix specialize in?

One important area of women’s health care that we specialize in is the treatment of infertility, in particular the inability to conceive caused by blockages of the Fallopian tubes. This condition can often be corrected with a minimally-invasive IR procedure called fallopian tube recanalization, which allows us doctors to increase pregnancy rates by up to 33%.

Another important women’s health area in which our IR skills have been valuable is the treatment of uterine fibroids. These non-cancerous growths, which develop in the wall of the uterus, can cause many unpleasant symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and swelling of the abdomen. A minimally-invasive IR procedure that we specialize in called Uterine Artery Embolization and can be quite effective in closing the abnormal veins that give rise to these fibroids, and thus in eliminating the pain and discomfort they cause. At this point, we are considered some of the most respected physicians offering uterine fibroid treatment options in Phoenix.

And finally, we specialize in treating a condition that affects an estimated one-third of all American women, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, also known as Chronic Pelvic Venous Disorders. CPVD is caused by swollen blood vessels (varices) that develop in the ovarian veins or other pelvic areas, which can cause chronic pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, abnormal menstrual bleeding, irritable bladder, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, CPVD can be effectively treated with a non-surgical, minimally-invasive procedure to embolize (block) the blood vessels that feed these veins.

At CiC, we are proud of our contributions to women’s health

If you suffer from any of the conditions mentioned above, please give us a call at 888-377-7122 and make an appointment to come in and see us. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The post Some of the Best Interventional Radiology Doctors in Phoenix Explain Their Interest In Treating Women’s Health Issues appeared first on Comprehensive Integrated Care.