Varicose veins are superficial, swollen, enlarged and twisting veins, often appearing dark purple or blue on the feet and legs. The condition occurs when blood through the veins flow in the wrong direction and starts accumulating.

Although varicose veins is not a serious condition, you should seek treatment if it causes symptoms like swelling and pain in the extremities. In severe cases, where a varicose vein ruptures or develops to form skin ulcers, your doctor may recommend laser treatment.

Can laser treatment cure varicose veins?

Laser surgery can effectively treat varicose veins. The procedure involves using a high-intensity beam of light to reduce enlarged, bulging veins that are observed usually on the calves or thighs.

How does the procedure work?

The heat emitted from the laser damages a vein, which causes scar tissues to form. This scar tissue shrinks and closes the vein. A closed vein gradually loses its source of blood and dies. After some time, usually in a year or two, the vein disappears on its own.

Two types of laser surgery are performed, namely  

  Simple Laser Treatment   This is done on the outer layers of your skin. It can cure small varicose veins and spider veins under the skin surface. Normally, more than one session, scheduled every 6-12 weeks is needed.
  Endovenous Laser Treatment   This particular procedure is used to cure large varicose veins that appear on the legs.
The steps of the procedure are as follows  
  Your healthcare provider will administer local anaesthesia to numb the area. You may be provided with an eyeglass to protect your eyes
  The surgeon will make a small incision on the skin and pass a laser fibre through a catheter into the veins while closely monitoring the vein on a screen
  As he/she pulls out the catheter, the length of the vein will heat up and shrink, and eventually close

This outpatient procedure is less painful than stripping and litigation. It has a shorter recovery period and can be performed under local anaesthesia or mild sedatives.

What to Expect

After the laser treatment, you can walk around without much complication. The recovery period is typically brief. You can expect to return to your daily activities following simple laser surgery. However, you might need to wear a compression stocking for a week or so after the endovenous laser procedure.
You may notice redness, bruising or burns on the skin after the treatment. That is only normal, so you need not worry. Do follow up with your doctor to see if the vein has closed.


Laser Treatment For Varicose Veins!

Formation of blood clots in the arteries of the lungs, heart or legs can actually kill a person. In such a case, the immediate medical action is necessary and the only way to deal with blood clots is thrombolysis.
Thrombolysis or thrombolytic therapy is a medical process that dissolves blood clots and facilitates blood flow to all parts of the body. Thus, it protects tissues and muscles from damage.

What are the causes of blood clots in the body?

  Poor blood circulation
  Conditions such as Deep Venous Thrombosis and atrial fibrillation
  Blood clots can also be formed because of dialysis catheters and by-pass grafts

How can you tell if you have blood clots?

  Swelling in one or more legs
  Cramp and tenderness in the legs
  Breathing trouble might indicate that blood clots have travelled to the lungs
  Sweating and frequent chest pain may suggest that blood clots have travelled to the heart

How is Thrombolysis performed?

Thrombolytic drugs are injected into the body intravenously. They make their way to where the blood clots exist and dissolve them. If there is a medical emergency, the drugs are delivered to the exact location of the blood clots and immediately start dissolving them. Another method is inserting a device into the blood clot infested region to break the clots up. The drugs which on entering the body dissolve blood clots are called thrombolytics. There are many varieties of thrombolytics such as the following-

  Streptokinase - It is a kind of enzyme. It is used when a person has just suffered a heart attack or pulmonary embolism. Doctors do not usually prescribe the second usage of this drug. It is injected into a vein and can be administered to pregnant women.

  Tenecteplase - Also an enzyme, it is a plasminogen activator. When it binds to the surface of the blood clot, it makes the clot degenerate.

  Reteplase - It is actually extracted from E-Coli. It is a sterile intravenous bolus injection

The leading cause of heart attacks and ischemic heart disorder is the formation of blood clots in the arteries that connect the heart and the brain. Thrombolysis is often employed as an emergency treatment for this purpose. Thrombolysis is also effective against blood clots formed in the lungs (which lead to acute pulmonary embolism). Sometimes blood clots are formed in the legs, upper extremities of the body, the pelvic region (deep vein thrombosis). These clots may travel to the lungs and heart.

Consult your doctor before undergoing the treatment.

Thrombolysis - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Of It!

Varicose veins are a condition marked by enlarged or gnarled veins. This typically affects the veins in the feet and legs. In most cases, varicose veins are a mere cosmetic concern but in some cases, it can be quite uncomfortable and painful. If left untreated, it can also lead to further complications.

Varicose veins may be caused by a lack of elasticity in the veins causing blood to pool in them and flow backwards. This blood is deoxygenated and hence the veins appear blue. Women have a higher risk of suffering from varicose veins as compared to men. This risk also increases with age and weight. Pregnancy can also cause varicose veins. 

The most common symptoms of this condition are:

Visible veins just under the surface of the skin
Veins that appear blue and gnarled
A dull ache in the legs
Throbbing or burning sensation in the calves
Pain in the legs that worsens after standing or sitting in the same position for a long time
Itching around the veins
Bleeding veins
Inflammation of the skin or ulcers around the ankles
Red or blue spider veins
What steps to maintain once you have undergone the sugery

Keeping the legs raised or wear compression stockings can relieve the pain associated with varicose veins and prevent the condition from worsening. 
Exercise can also help improve blood circulation. If these home remedies are not effective, the patient may need to consult a doctor.
Women with a family history of varicose veins should also avoid wearing high heels and tight stockings.
Complications caused by varicose veins are rare. However, some people may experience bleeding on the surface of the skin. There are chances that the veins deep inside the muscle may get twisted which may lead to the swelling of the calf muscles. Varicose veins may also cause painful ulcers around the ankles and is a result of the buildup of fluid around the ankles.

All the complication must be reported to the doctor at the earliest to prevent the condition from worsening.

Varicose Veins - Know The Signs Of The Condition!

Blood flows through the tubes called as blood vessels. There are two networks of blood vessels   the arteries and the veins. The arteries carry pure or oxygenated blood from the heart to the various parts of the body. The veins, on the other hand, collect impure blood from all over the body and reach it to the heart. Blood flow in the veins is controlled via valves, which ensure blood does not flow in the reverse direction (against its desired direction of flow). The veins in the legs, which are farther from the heart, are quite thick and exert extra pressure to pump blood into the heart. They need to transport blood against gravity and so in people who are prone to stand for long hours, they can become thicker, swollen, twisted, and engorged. In severe cases, there could even lead to bleeding.

Some common causes for varicose veins are:

Damaged valves which are not able to control the flow of blood in the required direction.
Veins with a thin wall that are unable to control blood flow.
Risk factors: Though these are the suspected causes, there are specific risk factors which aggravate the condition of varicose veins.

Family history
Smoking
Occupations which require prolonged standing (construction jobs, painters, etc.)
Pregnancy
Obesity
Age, which reduces the elasticity of the veins
Surgery in the leg, which could have hampered the values or veins
There are quite a few symptoms of varicose veins. These are quite distinct and present as:

Swollen, ropy leg veins which can be blue
Pain, especially with prolonged standing
Tenderness on touching the veins
Itching and heaviness along the veins
Skin changes like scaling and dryness
Night cramps around the area
Susceptibility to bleed from these veins
While varicose veins are easy to diagnose given their distinct clinical presentation, some additional testing can involve the following:

Doppler ultrasound
Scanning
MRI
As said, prevention is better than cure; here are some preventive measures that can be really helpful:

Elevate legs as much as possible. When working, take short breaks to reduce stagnation and promote blood circulation
Quit smoking
Avoiding alcohol, as it causes venous dilation
Weight management
Avoid tight clothing and sitting with cross-legs for prolonged periods as they put a lot of pressure on the veins and valves
Follow a regular exercise regimen to improve blood flow in the legs, like walking or running
Starting from the least invasive to the most, this condition can be treated by:

Compression stocking (Ted hose or Jobst stocking) which improves circulation and reducing pain
Surgical options include sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and stripping off the vein. These are done in very severe cases, but quite rare.

Varicose Veins - How Best It Can Diagnosed?

Every woman wishes for great legs they can flaunt in tiny shorts and skirts whenever they feel like it. The greatest impediment to this freedom, however, is unattractive spider and varicose veins that make legs lose their aesthetic value and limit women from enjoying experimenting with short outfits. Not only do these veins look unattractive on legs, but they are quite painful as well. The good news is that modern medicine has enabled doctors to use the body's own healing mechanisms to amend the problem. Doctors can now employ the use of laser treatments and injections to provide quick relief to patients. What's more, these treatments can be addressed easily in a doctor's office and require short visits, and you can walk comfortably out of the doctor's office on your own.

How it works
Minimally invasive laser treatments and injections are used to collapse and then shrink the affected veins. Thereafter, the veins are then absorbed into the tissue that underlay this, and will bring a clear effect such that all the visible traces will be gone. The surrounding healthy veins will then take control and restore the normal circulation of the body. While there might be some little bruising noticed, it will only last temporarily.

Options available
Today the treatments for these veins are improved and what's more, the process is much more comfortable. This is unlike the past where thick, uncomfortable, elastic compression socks were used to relieve pain and the procedures involved a surgery where veins are stripped out of the leg and patients are put under anesthetics. The options that are available today include endovenous laser ablation where a map around the abnormal vein is created with ultrasound, a catheter inserted into the vein and a laser carefully passed through the catheter generating a controlled amount of heat that will seal the vein and redirect blood to the healthy vessels. There is injection sclerotherapy where a pharmaceutical liquid is injected into the vein that will cause the vessels walls to adhere and then seal shut and the blood instantly gets directed to healthier veins while the treated vein disappears. Laser sclerotherapy is reserved for tiny superficial veins and may not get injected.

While there is no cure for varicose veins, a doctor can prescribe post treatment instructions that will minimize the chances of a patient getting the veins again. Things like managing diet, exercise and good lifestyle choices are among them. Also routine monitoring is the key to preventing future reoccurrences.

Want Beautiful Legs? You Can Opt for Vein Removal Therapy

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a disease of blood vessels that are located outside the heart and brain. The condition develops due to fatty deposits in the arteries and veins that stops the blood flow to the heart and mind as the case may be. It narrows the artery and restricts the blood flow, which causes problems to other organs of the body such as kidney, liver, and stomach.


Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease-
Peripheral Artery Disease is the most common type of condition in people. Some people may not even notice the symptoms. The symptoms include:

Pain in the hips and lower leg area.
Brittle toenails.
Short breath while taking stairs.
Pain in the calf.
Numbness and coldness in the leg around a calf
Hair loss on legs and feet
Erectile dysfunction in men
Repeated sores and ulcers in legs
Causes of Peripheral Artery Disease-
The most common cause of Peripheral Artery Disease is the deposit of fatty substances inside the arteries. The fatty deposits build in the arteries gradually with a process called Atherosclerosis. Most of the time people do not know that they are facing the problem of Atherosclerosis. With time deposits increase and the arteries become narrow. It restricts the blood flow and causes problems for other organs.
Another cause for Peripheral Artery Disease is clot created in the arteries due to diabetes. Also, this problem is common in diabetic patients and increases with old age.

The risk factors that contribute to the development of Peripheral Artery Disease are high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.

Diagnosis of Peripheral Artery Disease-
The primary way to test and diagnose Peripheral Artery Disease is to check the blood pressure in the arm and ankles. If the pressure is low as compared to arm in the ankles, one might be facing Peripheral Artery Disease. It is commonly known as the ankle-brachial index. Other ways to determine Peripheral Artery Disease are CT scans, angiography, and blood tests. Since the disease is prevalent and gradually progress, most of the time it remains undetected.

It is essential that Peripheral Artery Disease gets detected and treated well in time. If the condition persists for a more extended period of time, it may result in loss of leg, increased chances of coronary artery disease and carotid atherosclerosis.

Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease-
The only way to treat Peripheral Artery Disease is to indulge in physical activity. A regular regime of exercise and physical work will help a person to burn fat and makes the arteries fat free. Doctors suggest that daily 30 minutes of walking or gyming will help treat Peripheral Artery Disease with significant effects. One may notice the signs in just a couple of months.

Along with exercise, one also needs to monitor the weight and eating habits. Foods that are rich in fats and bad cholesterol should be avoided. Make changes in the lifestyle and eat a healthy balanced diet. Include fruits and fresh vegetables in the diet and follow a low carb diet for regular food intake. If a person is addicted to smoking and alcohol, then he/she should consider leaving the bad habits for their own good health.

Take Away-
Above are some of the common and tried treatments. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before opting for any of these options as these treatments are depended upon the condition of the patients.


Learning In depth About Peripheral Artery Disease!

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