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<\/figure>\n\nWhat causes varicose veins?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n According to A. Grinkevi\u010dius, the main cause of the condition is an inherited weakness of the vein valves, which prevents blood from returning efficiently to the heart, causing it to pool in the legs. “Human blood vessels, especially those where blood flows under resistance, have valves. Blood in the leg veins must flow against gravity \u2013 from the bottom up, towards the heart. However, according to the laws of physics, this does not happen automatically. To facilitate this, the human body has a unique anatomical system that helps blood move upwards. During movement, working muscles compress the veins, and the blood climbs up like steps by catching onto the valves. But when those steps collapse \u2013 the valves stop working, blood begins to pool in the legs, leading to venous dilation, lumps, and bulges,” the vascular surgeon explains vividly.<\/p>\n\n This pooling of blood causes various symptoms: heavy legs, swelling, and discomfort. According to the surgeon, the blood that fails to return to the heart and lungs is depleted \u2013 it contains more carbon dioxide and less oxygen. This composition of blood causes tissue hypoxia, leading to muscle cramps and spasms.<\/p>\n\n The doctor emphasises that the problem begins with faulty vein valves: “They are usually weak due to hereditary factors, and their function is further worsened by our lifestyle \u2013 prolonged sitting, heavy physical labour, and being overweight. As a result, valve function fails completely, and they no longer do their job.”<\/p>\n\n Blood flow becomes even more difficult during pregnancy \u2013 the growing foetus exerts pressure on the pelvic area, increasing the load on the valves. “If a woman is predisposed to this condition, the first symptoms often appear during pregnancy. So-called bulging veins begin to form on the legs,” the doctor notes.<\/p>\n\n A sedentary job is also highlighted as one of the primary risk factors. According to A. Grinkevi\u010dius, prolonged sitting, where the muscles are inactive, the legs are bent, and the entire body is inactive, directly contributes to vein dilation. Over time, these conditions, especially with an inherited weakness of the valves, trigger the onset of the disease.<\/p>\n\n On the other hand, standing for long periods in a static position or heavy physical strain can also trigger varicose veins. However, the phlebologist emphasises that if a person naturally has strong valves, neither prolonged standing, pregnancy, nor hard work will cause varicose veins. “One woman can give birth to ten children and have no signs of the condition, while for another, a single pregnancy is enough for her legs to be affected by varicose veins. Genetic predisposition is the primary factor. If certain life circumstances occur \u2013 such as low physical activity, an unsuitable type of work, or pregnancy \u2013 the disease can progress more rapidly. If these conditions are absent, varicose veins progress slowly,” explains the specialist with over 20 years of experience in treating vein diseases.<\/p>\n\n What are the first symptoms of varicose veins to look out for?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n According to vascular surgeon and phlebologist Ar\u016bnas Grinkevi\u010dius, the first indirect sign worth paying attention to is family history: “I always advise my patients to look at their family. If there is a history of this condition in your family, even if you do not experience any symptoms, it is worth coming for a preventive check-up with a doctor who specialises in phlebology \u2013 the treatment of vein diseases.”<\/p>\n\n The diagnostic test that allows for an accurate assessment of vein health is a Duplex ultrasound scan. This is a specific diagnostic tool that shows not only the function of the vein valves but also any potential reflux or weakness, even before obvious symptoms appear. In such cases, the patient can be given preventive recommendations: how to manage their lifestyle, what to monitor, and how to act so that symptoms appear as late as possible or not at all. “This way, we can stay one step ahead of the disease,” the doctor notes.<\/p>\n\n The first symptoms of varicose veins to appear are usually cosmetic. Unsurprisingly, women are more likely to seek specialist help, as they are often more concerned with the appearance of their legs. Women’s skin is thinner, and they do not have the same leg hair as men, so even the smallest changes in the blood vessels are noticed more quickly. The first visual symptom is thread veins \u2013 dilated small blood vessels, usually below the knee joints.<\/p>\n\n If a woman notices these signs, she should not delay \u2013 it is recommended to consult a vascular surgeon specialising in varicose vein treatment and have a scan without waiting. “This is especially important if a woman is planning to become pregnant, as pregnancy is a state that can accelerate the condition very quickly if the right conditions are present,” the phlebologist warns.<\/p>\n\n The surgeon explains that when dealing with an aesthetic concern \u2013 such as the expansion of small capillaries \u2013 there are two possible conclusions: a predisposition to the condition is either present or not. If there is no predisposition, it is purely a cosmetic issue that can be easily resolved at any time. However, if there is a predisposition, prevention or treatment is necessary, and pregnancy should only be planned after addressing this issue. “Our approach needs to change fundamentally. For many years, people thought that if the leg was not swollen, there was nothing to treat. But if we act in time, we can keep legs both beautiful and healthy,” A. Grinkevi\u010dius emphasises.<\/p>\n\n Therefore, according to the surgeon, when planning a family, if valve insufficiency and a predisposition to varicose veins are diagnosed, a dilemma often arises: does the woman want to have legs that are both beautiful and healthy in the future, or<\/p>\n\n only healthy. “Because after giving birth to two or three children, the legs will be severely affected \u2013 we might be able to restore the circulation, but we will no longer be able to offer cosmetic solutions,” the doctor warns.<\/p>\n\n The surgeon points out that although modern diagnostic tests can identify a predisposition to varicose veins quite early and predict its progression, the Duplex ultrasound scan should not be performed by a general sonographer or a general surgeon, but specifically by the specialist who treats vein diseases. “Just like in any field, there are many nuances that are crucial to the final result. Only a doctor specialising in phlebology is fully conversant with them,” the vascular surgeon explains.<\/p>\n\n According to him, it is not only important to diagnose the patient with leaking valves but also to explain where the first symptoms will appear and to visually show how those veins function. According to the doctor, when a patient becomes part of the treatment process, understands the condition, and knows what to look out for, their motivation to seek treatment increases significantly.<\/p>\n\n Myths about varicose vein treatment. Is surgery really the only option?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Many people still avoid seeking medical help for varicose veins because they believe that the only treatment option is painful surgery. This is a very common belief. “This myth is often passed down from generation to generation \u2013 mothers, fathers, grandparents share memories of outdated surgical methods that were, in fact, ‘blind’ and invasive. But times have changed,” says Ar\u016bnas Grinkevi\u010dius. “Today, varicose vein treatment is completely different \u2013 modern, safe, minimally invasive, and, most importantly, effective. Wherever possible, we use gentle treatment methods that ensure quick recovery.”<\/p>\n\n The gold standard of modern vein surgery, according to the doctor, is laser surgery, or endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). This is a minimally invasive procedure that treats the root cause of the disease \u2013 the damaged section of the vein where blood flows in the wrong direction. “Even if a patient has already undergone surgery several times and the condition has recurred, if I see any possibility of performing laser treatment, I always recommend it,” says the vascular surgeon.<\/p>\n\n According to the surgeon, to ensure the success of the treatment, it is vital that the procedure is performed by an experienced specialist with the appropriate equipment and technique. “One surgeon may be able to insert the laser probe, another may not. One clinic will have the necessary equipment, another will not. Therefore, it is highly important to go to a clinic that has the required equipment and employs an experienced specialist in vein disease.”<\/p>\n\n The vascular surgeon explains that, unfortunately, there are quite a few cases where patients return with recurrent disease after traditional surgery. This often occurs not due to the progression of the disease, but because the affected area was not properly removed. According to the doctor, it is important to understand that varicose veins are a hereditary condition, and we cannot surgically remove the genetic predisposition. It is a lifelong companion. However, the phlebologist’s task is to identify the damaged area and treat it so that the disease does not recur in that specific spot.<\/p>\n\n “If I treat one vein while another is healthy, I must protect it. Therefore, I invite the patient for a follow-up after a year \u2013 to make sure that the treated vein has disappeared and the healthy one remains the same. Post-operative monitoring is essential. This is where the nuances of phlebology lie \u2013 we must not only operate but also monitor. If everything is stable after a year, the patient is given the necessary information and knows what to watch for and what to expect; after that, they only need to seek help if necessary, upon the onset of early symptoms,” the doctor explains.<\/p>\n\n According to the surgeon, there are two paths for a patient: one is simply to receive treatment, and the other is to receive treatment and actually recover. “Unfortunately, in our healthcare environment, it is often the case that the focus is only on treating the patient, while whether they actually get better seems less important,” he says candidly.<\/p>\n\n Although, according to A. Grinkevi\u010dius, laser surgery is suitable for 9 out of 10 patients, even in advanced stages of the disease where it is technically impossible, foam sclerotherapy can be used. This is a procedure where medicine is injected into the vein to close off the blood flow in the affected area. However, while modern laser treatment, when performed correctly, has a recurrence rate of only about 3 per cent, with sclerotherapy, it can be as high as 50 per cent.<\/p>\n\n “I believe that everyone deserves to be among the 97 per cent who, after professionally performed laser treatment, never need to visit a phlebologist again. However, if a patient undergoes surgery and the disease recurs, when they return for treatment, a laser is often no longer suitable, and repeat surgery becomes ineffective and hazardous, leaving sclerotherapy as the only option,” A. Grinkevi\u010dius states.<\/p>\n\n Why you should not delay varicose vein treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Varicose veins are not just a cosmetic flaw or a source of discomfort. Left untreated, they can lead to serious, and in the long term, even life-threatening complications. Therefore, according to Ar\u016bnas Grinkevi\u010dius, it is important not to delay consulting a phlebologist at the first sign of symptoms \u2013 timely treatment can preserve both health and quality of life.<\/p>\n\n “When varicose veins progress over years, complications eventually develop \u2013 such as non-healing wounds, infections, and venous leg ulcers,” the doctor says. These conditions are particularly common in older age, when circulation deteriorates and tissues are deprived of adequate oxygen for long periods.<\/p>\n\n One of the most dangerous complications is thrombosis, which is when a blood clot forms in a blood vessel. It can develop due to three main reasons:<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n A blood clot can not only cause severe local inflammation or swelling but can also travel to the deep veins or even the pulmonary artery, causing a pulmonary embolism \u2013 which is a life-threatening emergency. “One leg becomes swollen, blue, or even blackened, and there is nothing more we can do. Once such a complication occurs, there is no longer any talk of aesthetics or health,” the doctor says candidly.<\/p>\n\n Early treatment ensures a better outcome and helps prevent complications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The vascular surgeon reminds us that the earlier treatment is started, the easier it is to achieve both a clinical result and an aesthetic effect: “If treated early, we can have a leg that is both healthy and beautiful. If treated late \u2013 only a healthy one. And if we delay too long, we are left with neither.”<\/p>\n\n One of the most common long-term complications is venous leg ulcers, which develop due to chronic deep vein insufficiency. These are persistent, slow-healing wounds that cause pain, discomfort, and social isolation. “This could often be avoided if the condition were treated in time,” A. Grinkevi\u010dius emphasises.<\/p>\n\n Admittedly, according to the surgeon, varicose veins do not progress at the same rate for everyone. For some, it takes a few years; for others, several decades. However, waiting and hoping that “maybe it will go away on its own” is like playing a health lottery. “If we seek treatment and resolve it, we put an end to it. But if we wait, we are participating in a lottery where the outcome can be very painful,” he warns.<\/p>\n\n What to do if you notice the first symptoms?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The vein specialist advises:<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n\n “It is important to understand that varicose veins are not a life sentence. Today, we have methods that not only treat the condition but also allow patients to live without pain, self-consciousness, or the fear of complications. If you feel or notice any symptoms, do not delay \u2013 consult a specialist. It is better to see a doctor unnecessarily than to come too late,” emphasises vascular surgeon and phlebologist Ar\u016bnas Grinkevi\u010dius, concluding the conversation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO), varicose veins remain one of the most common circulatory disorders in the world, and incidence rates continue to rise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":14758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[386],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15760"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15760"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15761,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15760\/revisions\/15761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bak.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bak.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/shutterstock_1958728399.jpg\")
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