Jan 19, 2026
3 min read
Specialist in angiology and vascular surgery, Dr. Albert Gonzalez takes to the 'La Huella de la Pile' podcast to explore the causes and treatment of varicose veins.
Varicose veins are one of the most frequent vascular pathologies and at the same time the most unknown for a large part of the population.It is a change in the venous system that mainly affects the legs and occurs when the veins lose the ability to efficiently transport blood back to the heart.Although for years they have been considered a purely aesthetic problem, the reality is that they can cause significant discomfort and in some cases health problems that need to be monitored.Understanding what they are, why they occur, and how to prevent or treat them is key to improving the quality of life for those who suffer from them.
In this context, Dr. Albert González, a specialist in angiology and vascular surgery with a special focus on the treatment of varicose veins, addressed this issue in depth during his participation in the podcast 'La Huella de la Piel', presented by María Velasco."These can cause many symptoms: pain, stinging, itching, tingling, heaviness in the legs, or especially swelling," he explained.These symptoms tend to increase at the end of the day or after a long period of standing or sitting, directly affecting the daily health of patients.
Varicose veins or spider veins?
One of the most important aspects highlighted by experts is the importance of distinguishing between varicose veins and spider veins, words that are often used interchangeably, but do not mean the same thing.able”, in addition to the size and diameter of the affected vein.
"Varicose veins are abnormally dilated veins that do not perform their venous return function properly"
According to González, spider veins can also be divided into telangiectasias, about one millimeter, and reticular veins, between one millimeter and four.”More than four millimeters is when we're talking about varicose veins," he explains.This division is not only cosmetic, but has clinical significance when assessing risk and determining the best treatment.
chronic disease of the veins
Chronic vein disease affects not only the legs, but can have wider health consequences."There are published studies that show that chronic vein disease, as it progresses, may be associated with cardiovascular diseases," says the expert.In fact, he mentions a study of over 10,000 patients that found that "people with a higher degree of chronic vein disease have a higher risk of developing more heart disease."
Despite this, Dr. González sends a reassuring message: "only 22% of people who have palpable varicose veins, in the second stage, will progress to more harmful degrees. This means that most people in the second stage remain in this stage."Therefore, not all varicose veins necessarily progress to more serious forms.
Causes, methods and treatments
About the reasons, the specialist highlights its multifical nature. "A sedentary lifestyle is one of these factors, however, ,,, ,,,,,,,,,. Obesity and,,, and I often see it in たとえば, 妊娠中 は たとえば.
In any case, resistance plays an important role."When we stand, we can exercise with the feet and heels, which activates the muscle pump, improving venous return."He also mentions the use of compression stockings, although he explains that this will be revealed in consultation when the patient is examined, as there are different levels of production.
"Whenever we talk about venous pathology, the key is ultrasound".
In addition, ultrasound is important in the diagnosis."When we talk about venous pathology, ultrasound is key. During the first visit, we always do a venous ultrasound to see if there is a thrombosis in the leg," he explained.“European guidelines for vein surgery recommend sclerotherapy,” he explains, which involves injecting a substance to close the victim’s vein.In more advanced cases, “surgery for varicose veins is recommended from symptomatic stage two.”
Finally, the expert insists that it is a safe treatment with scientific evidence."Both treatments are safe from the initial stage and in both advanced stages, just like surgery. There are proven results and significant clinical evidence and experience."has a significant impact on the quality of people's lives.It is important to know its cause, recognize its first symptoms and take preventive measures to slow its progression and reduce symptoms.
*Content prepared by health journalists and approved by a high-level expert committee.However, we recommend that the reader consult a healthcare professional with any health-related questions.
