5 Vein Disease Myths Busted

With vein disease affecting over 30 million Americans, the disease is inherently going to come with a lot of myths and incorrect information. Today we are going to bust 5 of the most common myths to ensure you have the facts about this very common condition.

1. Even after treatment for varicose veins, they will generally re-occur.
   This myth has roots in the treatments of the past, prior to today’s very effective modern medical treatments. When the diagnosis and treatment of vein disease was in it’s infancy, procedures like “vein stripping” were performed but often did not treat the underlying causing which led to varicose veins re-appearing. In today’s environment, varicose veins that are treated by a qualified physician have a recurrence rates less than 5%.
2. Women should wait until they have had all their pregnancies before seeking treatment for varicose veins.
   Much like the above mentioned myth, this primarily stemmed from the inadequate procedures of the past. The new school of thought implies the opposite and many OBGYNs are suggesting their patients get screened for venous insufficiency prior to a pregnancy, allowing them to seek treatment ahead of time and avoid the pain and discomfort so often associated with varicose veins during pregnancy.
3. The treatment of varicose veins is just a cosmetic issue and is not considered a medical issue unless painful.
   The myth that varicose veins don’t need to be treated unless they are painful is not only incorrect but can be detrimental to one’s health. Varicose veins are a sign of venous insufficiency and can also be an early warning sign of venous hypertension and other more complex issues.
4. Insurance does not cover the expense of varicose vein treatments.
   Much of this myth stems from the thought that varicose veins are a cosmetic issue, however, since we now know they are indeed tied to venous insufficiency, most insurers providers will cover the procedure to remove them. It is common that conservative therapies like compression stockings will need to be attempted before the insurance provider approves the treatment.
5. Vein disease is a sign of aging and only occurs in seniors.
   Increasing age is a slight risk factor for varicose veins because of wear and tear on the vein valves that regulate blood flow but in most cases vein disease is hereditary. It is not at all unusual to find varicose veins in young adults. Age is just a number and symptoms more often than age should be the primary sign that you may be suffering from vein disease.