Keep up-to-date on Michael Gaunts’ news and views.

Click here to visit our blog and join
in the discussion.

Click here to read the recent article on Mr Gaunt in the Dr Hilary Jones Magazine.

It might come as a surprise too many but the problem of varicose veins can affect men just as much as women.

Recent research has shown that the condition is just as common in men - shattering any illusion that varicose veins is something that only blights women.

The problem, and perhaps the reason for the misconception, is that men cover up their legs and are often blind to the problems that are occurring.

The stark truth is that varicose veins can affect men of all ages - from sporty youngsters right through to the middle-aged and elderly.

Seek medical treatment

One of the biggest problems faced by Mr Gaunt is that men often do not seek medical treatment - something that not only relates to varicose veins!

Men are usually less bothered by the cosmetic element of varicose veins as they normally wear trousers which conceal the veins.

Not only do they wear trousers, but their hairy legs also cover up any potential problems.

They only seek treatment when the veins are swollen and throbbing and the symptoms from the veins can no longer be ignored.

But not getting medical treatment can only make the problem worse and men often have them for many years before they seek the opinion of a specialist.

By this point, the surgery required to treat the veins is often more extensive than it might have been if they had sought an early review.

In fact, swollen and throbbing veins in men are much more pronounced than they are in women.

Treatment

In some cases, problem veins can be treated just by wearing a supportive hose and avoiding long periods of standing.

In more severe cases, medical treatment might be needed. One of the more common treatments that men undergo for problem veins is called endovenous laser ablation.

During this treatment, a laser is inserted directly into the affected vein and the heat generated causes the vein to shrink back to its normal size.

Despite the hi-tech and scientific nature of the treatment, this is an outpatient procedure which takes about an hour to complete. In most cases, a patient can go back to work the next day.

Recent research has shown that the condition is just as common in men shattering any illusion that varicose veins is something that only blights women.