Varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency both affect the veins of the legs. The veins in the legs are equipped with one-way valves, which direct the flow of blood from the legs to the heart. If these valves malfunction, the blood may flow backwards. This blood may collect in small pools somewhere in the veins or the veins may become enlarged and swollen. This causes immense pain that makes it difficult to go about your everyday activities.

What are the complications linked with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency? 

Usually, both disorders cause a lot of discomfort and pain. But sometimes the varicose vein may rupture and cause varicose ulcers on the skin of your legs. The blood clot may travel to your heart and it may lead to cardiac complications.

Who is susceptible to varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency?

Although anyone can get varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency, women are more likely to develop these venous disorders than men. The chances go up if you are-

  Older than 50
  Obese
  If someone in the family has varicose veins or chronic venous insufficiency
  Pregnant or if you have been pregnant before
  If you have been diagnosed with blood clots
  If you consume alcohol or smoke

Diagnosis of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency-

As interrupted blood flow leads to both varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, your doctor will conduct a blood flow test through a duplex ultrasound. The sound waves can help determine in which direction the blood is flowing and the speed of the flow.

Treatment of varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency-

The doctor will ask you to implement lifestyle changes-

  You need to lose weight because being overweight is the chief contributing factor towards both these disorders. Besides regular exercise can improve blood flow through your veins
  Do not sit for long stretches of time. Go for small walks and stretch those legs.
  Medications that can target the pain and the swelling

Surgery:

If medication and lifestyle changes do not work, you might have to undergo surgery. The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. You can leave on the same day. Not much follow-up care is required.

Sclerotherapy: Another popular option is sclerotherapy . A chemical is injected into the vein that closes it. The scar it produces will disappear within 4-5 days.

Laser therapy: Painless small procedure to close diseases vein.

Open surgery: Small cuts over skin to remove diseases vein.

Both varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency are accompanied by pain. Medication can help keep the pain and discomfort under check but in severe cases surgery is necessary.

Varicose Veins & Chronic Venous Insufficiency!

Homeopathy is a method of treatment, which is based on the fact that symptoms of a certain disease, if induced in small quantities, may help cure the same disease in a sick person. Cardiological disorders are complications of the heart; they can range from various disorders, such as heart attack or irregular heartbeats.

Homeopathic remedies are based on naturally occurring substances and are given to the patients in a diluted form. These remedies trigger the symptoms in small quantities and heal the body.

The various homeopathic treatments for cardiological disorders are:
1. Latrodectus: This treatment is used to treat symptoms of precordial pain in the body.

2. Aurum metallicum: Aurum metallicum is used in treating symptoms of weakness in the muscles of the heart.

3. Aconitum:This treatment is used when a person is having a heart attack.

4. Spigelia: Spigelia is used in the treatment of irregular heartbeats which may cause sharp pain in the chest.

5. Cactus grandiflorus: This treatment is used in treating angina pectoris, which is characterized by symptoms of pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart.

6. Crataegus oxyacantha: This homeopathic treatment is used in treating coronary insufficiency in people. This disorder cause problems in heartbeat.

7. Digitalis: This homeopathic treatment is used in treating cardiac muscle failure. This disorder causes palpitation, tightness in the heart muscles and a suffocating sensation.

8. Kalmia latifolia: This treatment is effective in treating cardiac hypertrophy, which causes the heart muscle to thicken, resulting in size reduction of the ventricles. This treatment is very effective in treating cardiac hypertrophy that results after rheumatism.

9. Glonoinum: This homeopathic treatment is prescribed to treat symptoms of plaque buildup in the artery, which cause hypertension.

Homeopathy Treatment For Cardiological Disorders - 9 Best Remedies

Why Do You Get Palpitations? How to Get Immediate Relief?

Palpitations is the feeling that you experience when your heart beats abnormally. Heart palpitations can be felt in the form of rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats. They can be frightening as when you palpate, you heart beats so hard that it even skips a beat and the sensations are so strong that they can be felt all through your chest, neck, and throat.

Palpitations are also common especially in young people because of abnormal electrical circuits in heart from birth. However, they may have normal hearts on Echo. Such palpitations are curable by a nonsurgical methods called Radiofrequency Ablation.

Palpitations can be triggered as a result of a number of reasons like stress, certain medications, exercise etc.

Here are a few prominent causes of heart palpitations.

Causes unrelated to the Heart -

- Anxiety, fear, and stress
- Consumption of alcohol and drugs like caffeine, nicotine etc.
- Consumption of street drugs likes cocaine, amphetamines etc.
- Certain medical conditions such as thyroid, anemia, dehydration, low blood pressure and low sugar levels etc.
- Hormonal changes that occur as a result of menstruation, pregnancy, menopause etc.
- Certain nutritional and herbal supplements
- Certain medications like asthma inhalers, diet pills etc.
- Abnormal levels of electrolyte
- Sensitivity to certain food items like some carbohydrates

Causes related to the Heart -

- Coronary artery disease
- Prior instances of heart attack
- Congestive heart failure (a condition wherein your heart's chambers get affected)
- Problems associated with the heart valves or the heart muscles

Immediate Relief Mechanisms-

It is crucial to go to the most easily available doctor to get an ECG done during palpitations as ECG will give an exact diagnosis, which helps in identifying the clear line of treatment.

Here are a few techniques that can help you in getting immediate relief from heart palpitations until you are able to visit a doctor in case of a serious condition.

- Cough it out
- Splash cold water on your face or take a cold shower
- Practice slow, deep breathing exercises



Why Do You Get Palpitations? How to Get Immediate Relief?

9 health benefits of walnuts:

1. Lowers risk of diabetes
2. Promotes a healthy heart and circulatory system
3. Lowers cholesterol levels
4. Boosts brain power and improves memory
5. Slows the progression of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
6. Acts as an anti-inflammatory food
7. Rich in antioxidant properties
8. Fights breast and prostate cancer
9. Improves reproductive health in men.

9 Ultimate Reasons to Eat Walnuts Everyday

A VNUS closure procedure is a medical minimal invasive treatment that offers an efficient and non- surgical alternative for treating varicose veins. Varicose vein is a medical condition where the veins become large and swollen and begin to appear on the skin especially on the legs. The condition arises when the valves do not function properly and the blood begins to flow in the opposite direction. This often results in pooling of the blood in a certain area which makes the vein enlarge. As a result, they begin to appear on the skin as blue or dark purple and the most commonly affected areas are the legs. Apart from treating them with medicines, there are two distinct methods to treat them- invasive and non- surgical methods. VNUS closure is one non-surgical procedure that can treat and cure varicose veins.

The twisted and bulging chords in case of varicose veins can burst and give rise to ulcers. Before conditions get worse, one must get it treated and as proven, non-surgical methods are best to treat them. The VNUS procedure uses radioactive frequency to heat and close the vein from within. These heat waves contract the collagen found inside the vein walls and causes them to collapse and shut down.

There are several reasons why this is the best process to treat varicose veins. Some of which are:

This is not an open surgery and is minimally invasive.
The treatment does not require a very big setting such as other surgeries. It can be performed on the patient under local anesthesia and patients are often allowed to walk out of the clinic after a few hours of the procedure.
The patients can resume normal activities within two days of the procedure being performed.
The treatment is effective and provides long-lasting relief for the problem.
There is nothing scary about this treatment and it is a very simple procedure.
Before the procedure begins, the doctor using an ultrasound marks the position at the end of the groin. After the patient has been sedated using a local anesthesia, a special catheter is then inserted into the vein through a small 2-3mm cut just below the knee. Once that has been done, radiofrequency energy is used to seal the faulty veins. At the end of the procedure, a small dressing is applied, along with a special compression stocking which the patient needs to wear for the next 7 to 10 days. The process provides instant relief from the symptoms.

However, one must consult a doctor who can advise the patient on the best procedure for varicose veins after an examination to determine the intensity of the problem. 

VNUS Closure - Why Is It Performed?

What is Palpitation?
Palpitation is a feeling of awareness of your own heart beat. It is usually described as heart rate being either too fast (racing), too slow or a sensation of missing a beat.

Types of palpitations?
Normal (Benign)
- These palpitations occur as a response to physical or mental stress like exercise, fever, pain, fear, anxiety etc. 
- They are harmless and settle on their own once the precipitating factors disappear. They do not require any medical treatment.

Abnormal
- These palpitations occur due to some underlying abnormality in either the structure of heart or the beating of heart. 
- These can be dangerous and at times life threatening. They may or may not settle on their own and require some medical treatment.

Warning signs that suggest palpitations are abnormal?
Palpitations are abnormal, if they are associated with chest heaviness, chest pain, uneasiness, sweating, weakness, giddiness, feeling of black out, fainting, nausea, vomiting, seizures. Palpitations are more likely to be abnormal in people who have some existing heart disease and these patients should report to their doctor at the earliest.

What to do during palpitations?
1. Stay calm. 
2. Call for help. If u are alone avoid driving, use a taxi or auto, go to your nearest hospital/doctor and try to get an ECG during the palpitations. If you are helping someone having palpitations, if they faint, call for help, start CPR if they remain unresponsive and take them to the nearest hospital. 

Which doctor can treat palpitations?
Doctors who specialise in the treatment of palpitations are called Electrophysiologists. They specialise in heart rhythm and are capable of performing a variety of complex tests to identify and treat different types of palpitations.

Which investigations are used to diagnose palpitations?
ECG: Taken during palpitations and when the patient is normal is a very helpful tool. 
Holter: Externally applied recorder, which continuously records heart rhythm for 24 hrs. 
ELR: Extended loop recorder, is like holter, but it records rhythm for longer durations. 
ILR:  Internal loop recorder is attached within the body for recording rhythm for long duration. 
EPS: Electrophysiology study, is the most sure shot test to diagnose, identify and treat 
Palpitations.

What is EPS?
EPS stands for Electrophysiology study. By this test a trained Electrophysiologist studies the conduction and formation system of heart beat, to understand the source, cause and type of palpitation. It is a simple and safe procedure of 2 to 3 hours and can be done as a day care procedure (by admitting the patient for a few hours in hospital, with discharge on same day).

It requires fasting for 4 hrs, some standard blood investigations and is done with local anaesthesia and if required it can be combined with treatment like ablation in the same sitting.In the procedure Electrophysiologist take catheters into your heart to study and stimulate the palpitations and understand them. Once found they can use various techniques to stop the palpitations, the techniques are called Ablation.

What are the treatment options available for palpitations?
There are many options depending upon the nature of palpitations and condition of the patient: 
- Drug therapy 
- Cardioversion where either a drug or electric shock is given to stop palpitations immediately. 

Ablations using many sophisticated computer softwares 
Device Therapy like ICD (Internal cardiac defibrillator) 
Combination of all the above therapies.

Your Electrophysiologist and you as a team can make a choice about the options that will be best for you.

Palpitations - Everything You Need to Know

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