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Spider Veins: More Than Skin Deep?
2 Feb
Summary
- Spider veins often indicate underlying venous disease, not just cosmetic issues.
- Restless legs syndrome is frequently caused by vein disease, not magnesium deficiency.
- Leg pain can be a symptom of serious vein problems, not just aging.
Vascular surgeon Dr. Rema Malik asserts that spider veins, commonly seen as a cosmetic concern, often signify more serious underlying circulatory issues, particularly affecting women in their 30s and 40s. These visible, web-like veins can be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency, where faulty valves cause blood to pool in the legs.
Dr. Malik cautions that treating only the surface veins without addressing the root cause, often diagnosed through ultrasound, is ineffective. Visible veins may return, and more significant disease could progress unnoticed. Compression socks manage symptoms but do not fix mechanical valve problems.
Furthermore, Dr. Malik emphasizes that restless legs syndrome, often attributed to magnesium deficiency or stress, is in 80% of cases related to vein disease. Persistent leg pain, heaviness, or throbbing are also classic symptoms of venous disease and should not be dismissed as normal aging.
