Solutions for Varicose Veins: Symptoms & Treatments

Varicose veins are swollen, enlarged, and twisted veins found in the skin of the legs. Generally, it occurs on legs and the condition is totally visible on your skin. Vein walls help the blood to reach the heart. If the wall of your veins gets weakened and your valves are not functioning well, then the blood flows backward, which creates pressure on the veins. That’s why it looks like twisted & enlarged. The veins usually look blue, red, or purple in color. Here we understand the effective solutions for varicose veins. Explore symptoms, causes, and treatments to relieve discomfort and enhance your vein health.

Varicose Veins Signs

The most recognizable varicose veins signs are the twisted, swollen, blue or red visible veins just under your skin’s surface. Other symptoms include:

• Bulging veins
• Swelling in legs
• Pain and cramps in legs
• Itching
• Skin discoloration
• Difficulty in moving
• Heavy legs after doing physical activity

Varicose Veins Causes

Weakened veins and valves are the primary points of all varicose veins causes. When the veins wall gets weakened they increase the blood pressure. As the veins get enlarged they start to stretch. So, the valves stop working properly. Other causes related to varicose veins are:

• Natural aging
• Obesity because itcreates pressure on veins
• Prolonged standing or sitting
• High blood pressure

Varicose Veins Risk Factors

Anyone at any age can develop this disease. So, as the risk remains we should be aware of the risk factors. Varicose veins risk factors are:

• Family history:People with a family history of varicose veins can develop this condition also
• Age: With age your valves in the veins lose their strength. So, they stop working properly
• Hormonal issues: Women have more chances to develop this disease. Because during your adolescence period, pregnancy period your body goes through some hormonal changes which can be a reason for this disease
• Blood clots: Blood clot disease (thrombosis) is harmful. Even it damages your veins, which causes varicose veins
• Overweight: Excess weight can increase the chances of varicose veins as it creates pressure on your veins

Other Serious Complications Related To Varicose Veins

Varicose veins arenotthat much critical disease. But sometimes varicose veins can lead to serious problems. One of them is the problem of blood clots. Blood clots can develop major issues with varicose veins, like –

Deep Veins Thrombosis: In the condition of Deep Veins Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot arises in your deep veins. Then it blocks the blood from reaching to your heart and lungs. People with varicose veins are more likely to get a chance to develop DVT.

Pulmonary Embolism: When a blood clot develops in your deep veins, sticks into your lungs and blocks the artery to carry blood from heart to other parts of your body. This condition is called Pulmonary Embolism (PE). It’s a deadly condition.

How Varicose Veins Are Diagnosed?

Doctor will check your vein condition which is easily visible in your legs andwill ask about your symptoms, pains and medical history. There is no need for anyadditional tests, only an ultrasound is required to check the detailed condition of the veins.

Home Remedies You Can Try out

Prevent your varicose veins before they get worse& try the below points:

• Weight loss to reduce the pressure on your veins
• Avoid prolonged standing or sitting
• Wear compression stockings, which help the blood to flow upward, towardthe heart
• Elevate your legs for sometimes
• Do exercise regularly
• Eat healthy food
• Stay active
• Stay hydrated

Best Way To Treat Varicose Veins

Many treatments are there right now to overcome varicose veins. Though treatments can overcome your problems but varicose veins can come back anytime again at any time. Therefore it’s better to get the treatment on time. Varicose veins treatmentincludes:

• Vein stripping: Invein stripping surgery, your doctor removes the damaged veins.Firstlya small incisionwill be done on your visible varicose veins. Then your affected vein will be pulled out &remaining veinswill be tied off.
• Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy treats twisted veins. The doctorwill inject a solution in your vein walls to scar and close. This situation pushes the blood through healthier veins and the damaged vein slowly fades up.
• Laser treatment: Through laser therapy, the heat of the laser creates scar tissue that shuts off the blood flow, and eliminates the damaged veins.
• Endovenous Laser Ablation:In this procedure, your doctor will make a cut near your veins and they will insert a catheter with a laser into your veins. With the help of ultrasound, the laser heatsthe vein walls to seal off.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is varicose veins?

Answer:Enlarged and twisted veins in the legsare called varicose veins.

• What are common signs?

Answer: Heaviness, itching, pain, swelling are common signs.

• Howcompression stockings help invaricose veins?

Answer: It helps the blood to flow upward, towards the heart.

• Are varicose veins and spider veins are same?

Answer: Spider vein is a variant of varicose veins. But they look smaller and they are less harmful.

• What is the procedure of Sclerotherapy?

Answer: It’s a surgery where doctors will inject a solution in your vein walls to scar and close. This situation pushes the blood through healthier veins and the damaged vein slowly fades up.

• What is vein striping surgery?

Answer: Invein stripping surgery doctor removes the damaged veins.

• Is laser treatment truly effective?

Answer:Yes, with heat doctorsdestroyed the damage veins.

• Is the pain of laser treatment unbearable?

Answer: You may feel little uncomfortable but laser treatment is not that much painful.

• Is family history a reason for developing varicose veins?

Answer: Yes, your family history can lead you to varicose veins.