Tampa Bay Vein Specialist on Venous Disease and Treatments

TAMPA, FL--(Marketwire - Feb 14, 2013) - According to Dr. Jeffrey A. Hunt, a board-certified vein specialist in Tampa Bay, varicose veins are a hereditary ailment caused by weak or damaged valves inside the veins that can be exacerbated by an occupation that requires prolonged standing. These valves act as one-way flaps to prevent blood from flowing backwards as it moves up the legs. If the valves become weak or incompetent, Dr. Hunt says blood can leak back into the veins and collect there, eventually causing the veins to protrude from the skin -- a problem known as venous insufficiency. He adds that when backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they can become varicose.

On the other hand, Dr. Hunt says spider veins are bundles of small red or blue veins near the surface of the skin. When treating this particular venous disorder, the Tampa Bay vein specialist cites that most surface vessels will react well to spider vein sclerotherapy, but for the more resilient vessels, a laser modality may be recommended.

Whether deemed medical or strictly cosmetic, spider veins and varicose veins can cause varying degrees of discomfort. If left untreated, the condition can become more serious. Dr. Hunt stresses the importance of seeking medical treatment early in order to stop the natural progression of the disease, reduce symptoms, and achieve the best possible cosmetic results. If left untreated, most patients may experience symptoms including:

• Swelling
• Throbbing
• Heaviness
• Cramping
• Achiness
• Restless Leg Syndrome

At Dr. Hunt's practice, the CoolTouch Endolaser™ used in conjunction with Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy gives the advantage of a non-surgical procedure to treat all incompetent vessels and allows follow-up treatment to ensure they are permanently gone.

During CoolTouch Endolaser™ treatments, a specialized laser cannula is passed in the varicose vein causing a reaction to the inside wall of the vein. Light passes through the patient's skin and is absorbed by the undesired veins. In response, the veins coagulate, absorb, and disappear. Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy helps Dr. Hunt locate the problematic veins, guiding the sclerosing injections into the nonfunctioning vessel and causing them to contract and close. Following treatment, aside from some mild post-procedure soreness, there is typically no recovery time. In fact, Dr. Hunt notes that the more active patients are post-procedure, the better they will do and feel.

About Jeffrey A. Hunt, D.O., R.V.S. - Vein Specialist & Medical Director

Dr. Jeffrey A. Hunt is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He earned his medical degree at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and has specialized in Venous Disease for the past 21 years at the Vein & Cosmetic Center of Tampa Bay. He was one of the first five physicians worldwide to perform Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy with now over 80,000 varicose treatments performed. Dr. Hunt was also among the first group of physicians to pass the new American Board of Phlebology exam.