My mom is a heart patient who has varicose veins. She is considering laser light therapy to address them. Could this treatment affect her health?
If you are asking if LASER treatment for varicose veins affects the heart, the answer is no, it is perfectly safe.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Only in a good way by helping her circulation and preventing more serious medical issues from occuring.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Varicose veins in the legs are a sign of an underlying disease called venous reflux. Other symptoms of venous reflux are leg swelling, leg fatigue or heaviness, leg pain, leg night cramps, skin itching or burning, and leg ulcers or sores. The way venous blood flow normally moves in the legs is towards the heart. Unidirectional vein valves help the blood to keep moving up. When valves are not working properly, blood starts to pool in the legs causing signs and symptoms like above. Factors that contribute to the vein valves issues include age, gender, family history, weightlifting, multiple pregnancies, and prolonged standing. Seeing a vein specialist would be the first step to take to help manage varicose veins. A vein specialist will use ultrasound to scan the leg(s) and assess the venous circulation. According to the results, a vein specialist and cardiologist can further discuss which treatment plan would be the best for the specific case.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Laser closure of her refluxing valves and treatment of her varicose veins will improve her overall health, not worsen it. The only concern is whether or not her saphenous vein may be potentially necessary in the future for coronary bypass. See a vein specialist who can answer this question for you.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
After correcting the diseased varicose veins, your mother should see an improvement to her overall health since closing the problematic veins enhances circulation.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
In our office we do not use laser to treat veins; rather we specialize in sclerotherapy, Veinwave treatment and endovenous closure. For that, I can't answer your question.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Ask the cardiologist if sclerotherapy and local anesthetics pose a problem since they know her case better.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
No, laser light therapy should not affect your mom's health, despite her current heart problems. However, in such cases, it is best that she speak with her primary care physician and cardiologist since they are aware of her full medical history and can determine if the procedure is appropriate.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Your mother should be evaluated by a board certified vascular surgeon including ultrasound to establish the cause of her varicose veins (inherited and usually valve damage in a deeper system such as saphenous veins). The appropriate treatment of these deeper veins is with a laser inserted into the vein to seal it. Surface varicose veins are best removed at the same time with microphlebectomy. These are all office based procedures under local anesthetic with very little down time. A full medical history will be taken at time of assessment and if needed, we would coordinate with her cardiologist.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Laser or radiofrequency are usually OK for patients with heart problems. You should still have her contact her primary care physician and cardiologist just to be sure.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Light therapy is usually pretty safe but to be sure, she should consult with all doctors involved (including her primary care physician, cardiologist and the physician who will be performing the procedure). Have them discuss the potential risks and be sure that the physician who will be doing the treatment has full knowledge of all her health issues prior to therapy.
Published on Jul 11, 2012