Understanding Varicose Veins, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

 

Varicose veins are diseases of lower limbs with varicosities that are enlarged and twisted veins. While they are cosmetically unpleasant in any case, they may also lead to pain and in some cases more severe medical conditions if not treated. In this blog, we will talk about  varicose veins. what they are, what causes them, their symptoms and how they can be treated.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are twisted and turned blood vessels usually seem blue or purple lines on the skin. They tend to develop first on the lower limbs but can arise in any other part of the body as well. These veins develop when one way valves in your veins become weak or injured, leading to blood accumulation in the veins and swelling.

Some of the most common causes include:

Age: However, with age, beyond the age of 40 the walls of the veins may become less elastic, and second, the valves may start or already have started degrading.

Genetics: Among the risk factors are the presence of varicose veins in parents.

Pregnancy: The expansion of blood volume during pregnancy puts pressure on the veins causing tension on the blood vessels.

Obesity: As much as anything that creates more load on the legs brings this extra burden to the veins of the legs especially.

Standing or Sitting for Long Periods: Sitting or standing nature of jobs, may sometimes cause insufficient blood flow returning to the heart and therefore lead to varicose veins.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins:

Swollen, bulging veins: This is actually the most obvious indication of the varicose veins.

Achy or heavy legs: Discomfort or heaviness in the affected limb may be experienced.

Itching: The skin around the varicose veins becomes itchy at times.

Burning or throbbing: A warm or pulsating feeling in the veins is felt.

Cramping: Leg cramps, which occur at night.

What Is Known about Diagnosis of Varicose Veins?

This ailment is not difficult to diagnose and most often a physician arrives at the diagnosis by performing a physical examination on the affected patient. Your doctor can question your medical history, symptoms. They may sometimes suggest an ultrasound that will demonstrate the conditions under which blood is flowing through your veins and whether any abnormality exists.

Management and Initial Care for Varicose Veins

1. Lifestyle Changes

Exercise: Non-surgical treatment exercise maintains healthy blood circulation and is the best way to stop the worsening of varicose veins.

Leg raise exercise: A few times reheating is enough to decrease the state of swelling and increase blood circulation, if you lift your legs.

Weight Management: Reducing weight also helps lower pressure in veins thus preventing the condition.

2. Compression Stockings

Use of compression stockings is one of the easiest methods of dealing with varicose veins. These special stockings are used to compress the legs meaning that blood circulation improves and swelling lessens.

3. Minimally Invasive Procedures    

Sclerotherapy: Special liquid is being injected into the veins that are involved and they will shrink and wither away.

Laser Therapy: Laser treatment involves using light energy to seal small varicose veins pores.

Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT): This procedure involves the use of a laser to seal larger veins.

4. Surgical Treatment

In more extreme cases, the affected veins may need to be cut out or ligated. It is important that such procedures are done more often by health care providers who specialize in Peripheral vascular disease. It is usually done under local anesthesia.

Preventing Varicose Veins

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of developing them.

Stay Active: The muscular activity, even in the form of walking, cycling or swimming regularizes blood flow.

Avoid Prolonged Standing or Sitting: The manufacturing sector where you spend most of your time behind a production line, standing. If you are a person that spends a lot of time sitting then ensure that you take time and stand up to walk.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity also puts pressure on the veins so maintaining a good body weight goes a long way in preventing varicose veins.

When Should You See a Doctor?

While varicose veins are usually harmless, it’s important to consult a doctor if, You have a pain that doesn’t heal itself. Veins get inflamed, red or dilated. Now you want to treat the bleeding resulting from a varicose vein. You get ulcers or sores around the vein area.

Conclusion

Varicose veins are also fairly widespread, but it’s possible to deal with this problem rather successfully. If you get any sign or symptom of varicose veins, you should discuss this with your doctor. This condition can be managed in the early stages and this would save one’s life.

In most cases of varicose veins, by use of correct management, medications and changes in lifestyle, an individual can live a normal lifestyle.