Summer with more exposure, more concerning bumpy leg veins... How to deal with 'Hajijeongmaekryu' (varicose veins)

Various Factors Including Family History, Abdominal Obesity, and Occupational Characteristics
Treatment with Laser or Adhesive Without Incision

Commuters moving along on their way to work. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] One common leg condition that leads to frequent hospital visits during the summer is varicose veins, where blood vessels bulge and protrude unevenly. Varicose veins refer to the expansion and swelling of veins in the legs and feet, causing them to protrude visibly outside the skin. Due to the prominent appearance of these veins, many people seek medical attention when wearing short bottoms in the summer.

While the cosmetic aspect is concerning, the main issue is pain. The feet may feel heavy, the legs tire easily, and as the condition worsens, throbbing pain, cramps, and frequent swelling occur. If left untreated, ulcers can develop, making timely treatment essential.

Risk Factors for Varicose Veins... Family History, Pregnancy, Abdominal Obesity, Occupational Characteristics, and More

Varicose veins are reported to develop due to a combination of various risk factors. These include family history, pregnancy or childbirth, abdominal obesity or chronic diseases that increase abdominal pressure, occupations requiring standing for more than six hours a day, jobs involving prolonged sitting, a history of deep vein thrombosis, and habitual leg crossing while sitting.

In particular, family history or genetic factors are known to play the most significant role in the development of varicose veins. Some reports indicate that about 80% of varicose vein patients have at least one family member who has been treated for or is considering treatment for varicose veins. Pregnancy is the second most important factor after family history, with physical factors such as increased abdominal pressure due to uterine enlargement and hormonal changes during pregnancy playing major roles.

These various risk factors collectively cause abnormalities in the valves that prevent the backflow of venous blood, leading to varicose veins. The valves ensure that blood in the legs circulates only upward; when these valves are damaged, blood cannot flow upward and pools in the legs. This causes continuous pressure on the veins, resulting in their expansion.

"Heavy Feeling in Legs" - Seek Medical Attention if Swelling and Cramps Occur Frequently

According to a nationwide public awareness survey on varicose vein disease conducted by the Korean Society for Vascular Surgery and the Korean Society for Venous Disease involving 1,024 adults (900 general public, 124 patients), 85% of the general public considered "protruding leg veins" as the main symptom. However, less than half of actual patients reported experiencing this. Instead, patients most commonly complained of "heavy or tired legs." Pain in the soles and frequent cramps during sleep followed. If symptoms are ignored and become chronic, complications such as skin discoloration, hardening, and ulcers may develop.

Since varicose veins are vascular diseases caused by impaired venous circulation in the legs, symptoms such as easy fatigue, heaviness, swelling, and frequent cramps in the legs often appear. These symptoms tend to be more pronounced in the evening or at night rather than in the morning. Even without visible vein protrusion, if these symptoms caused by venous circulation insufficiency appear, it is important to visit a hospital for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

When symptoms occur, vascular ultrasound is performed at the hospital to check valve function and diagnose varicose veins. Vascular ultrasound is the most reliable diagnostic method and can be performed relatively easily without special preparation such as fasting or contrast agent administration. Diagnosis is based on whether valve damage causes blood reflux, the location of occurrence, and the duration and speed of reflux.

Professor Cho Seong-shin, Department of Vascular Surgery, Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital.

Various Surgical Treatments... Choose the Optimal Method Considering Symptoms and Disease

The fundamental treatment is surgery to restore smooth venous circulation. The classic surgical method involves making an incision in the skin to remove problematic veins. Recently, instead of incisions, surgeries often involve making a small hole to insert a catheter into the problematic vein and closing it by injecting heat, adhesive, or a sclerosing agent. When the vein is closed, the blood pooling in the leg disappears, and blood flows through other veins, eliminating symptoms caused by varicose veins.

Heat-based surgeries mainly include radiofrequency or laser ablation of varicose veins. Local anesthesia around the treated vein is required, and depending on the case, regional or general anesthesia may be necessary. Compared to the classic method of complete removal, these minimally invasive surgeries cause less pain and bruising and allow faster return to daily activities. Surgeries using adhesives or sclerosing agents have the advantage of no heat-related pain and can be performed under local anesthesia at the small catheter insertion site. However, patients allergic to specific substances cannot undergo these methods. Since there are various options, the patient's symptoms and disease severity should be considered first, followed by cosmetic, cost, and time factors.(Consultation: Professor Cho Sung-shin, Department of Vascular Surgery, Kangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.