What shall I do for spider veins and swollen legs?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 60 years old. I am in excellent health. I just had medical checkup and everything fine except cholesterol reading of 320 despite a healthy diet and exercise. My problem is peripheral edema, spider veins and swollen legs, which is often very painful after standing for a long time. In the past, has spent a long time standing at work. I have good shoes and surgical stockings for help. I am not on any medication for this. I have this problem for over five years now. Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I had gone through all the data posted. Regarding cholesterol, I suppose what you have said 302 is total cholesterol. It is elevated, but I need to know two other values like LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol level and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol level.

All the guidelines for starting medications for cholesterol lowering rely on LDL cholesterol. As LDL cholesterol is the one which is bad for the body and reason for heart attacks.

Regarding peripheral edema, from the history you have provided about standing for long durations previously and presence of edema and spider veins. It looks more that you are suffering from varicose veins.

Varicose veins is a condition where due to defect of valves in veins of lower limb the veins get dilated, tortuous and lower limb may get swollen. There may be blackish pigmentation and itching associated. The swelling usually comes down in the morning and is more prominent by evening. To diagnose this we need to do an ultrasound Doppler of venous system of both the limbs.

The management can be medical or surgical. Medical involves the use of compression stockings and elevation of the limb while lying down. The surgical management is stripping of veins and subfascial ligation of perforators. It can be done by laser also.