Varicose Veins is a condition in which an individual s veins become swollen and warped or twisted, which is visible on the skin. This condition most often is prevalent in the legs but can occur in any part of the body. Varicose Veins is a common medical condition with a few symptoms and signs. It affects the skin tone and texture for which some people undergo a treatment.  

These symptoms might not affect the person seriously, but they can get severe depending upon different conditions. Usually, Varicose Veins does not require medical treatment, but if it gets severe, then one needs to see the doctor or undergo surgery, which happens rarely. This condition can be easily diagnosed through physical examinations, but one might need to undergo some medical tests depending upon the severity of the condition.

Problems Related to Varicose Veins:

Some of the most common problems related to Varicose Veins are:

Telangiectasias: In this condition, blood vessels form a cluster, mostly on the upper body and face. They appear red and can be caused by many reasons such as genetic disarray, liver problems, pregnancy, or viral diseases. Although this is not something to worry about, one should consult the doctor if other symptoms accompany it too.

Spider Veins: This condition of Spider Veins is concerned with the smallest blood vessels called Capillaries. They are called spider veins because they develop mostly on legs and face and appear like a spider web. They are a moderate form of telangiectasias and hence does not really need medical treatment.

Varicoceles: Varicoceles appears in the scrotum region of the male body or over the testicle skin. This condition might result in infertility in males. A doctor should be immediately consulted if such a condition is seen.

Symptoms:

The Varicose Veins is not a serious medical problem unless the patient is going through severe pain and significantly manifested symptoms. There are many symptoms to identify the condition.

A visible cluster of blue or purple looking veins.

Frequent leg cramps.

Shrinking of skin of the ankle as a result of Lipodermatosclerosis (hardening of fat under the ankle skin).

Veins become tumefy or swollen and warped or twisted.

Ankles become swollen.

Throbbing legs.

Blood clots.

An unusual amount of bleeding in the affected part with a small injury.

Restless leg syndrome.

Scars like white, irregular patches on the ankle (Atrophie Blanche).

Redness, itchiness, and dryness on the affected area (stasis dermatitis or venous eczema).

Skin Discoloration.

Skin ulcers.

Precautions:

There are some precautions that one can take to relieve the pain caused by Varicose Veins.

Avoid standing for a longer period of time.

Maintain a healthy and balanced weight.

Sitting with legs straight and uncrossed.

Exercising.

Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes.

Elevating legs while relaxing.

Take away:

Varicose Veins is a condition in which blood vessels get clustered in a part of the body under the skin. The veins appear blue or purple and become swollen and twisted. This condition is often not a serious medical problem, but in some cases, it might need surgery to avoid any serious issue. This can be treated by precautions and medications, but one can undergo surgery to get rid of the texture and view of the clustered veins. The recovery of Varicose Veins is quicker.

Varicose Veins - What You Must Be Aware About?

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?

Coronary artery disease or CAD is the name given to the heart condition in which the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients, also called coronary arteries, get blocked, damaged or diseased.

Blockages usually happen when cholesterol-containing deposits called plaque deposit in your arteries. Plaque narrows the lumen of your coronary artery which means your heart gets lesser and lesser oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
Inflammation is also to blame for coronary artery disease.
Common symptoms of CAD include

Angina or pain in the chest
Shortness of breath
If the blockage is complete, you can get a heart attack.
Common Diagnostic tests
When you go to a heart specialist, she will ask questions about your medical history and follow it up with a physical exam and order routine blood and diagnostic tests to confirm CAD like:

Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG records electrical signals as they travel through your heart revealing evidence of a previous heart attack or one that s happening. Holter monitoring is a type of ECG where you wear a portable monitor for 24 hours as you go about your normal daily activities. Abnormalities in the results suggest reduced blood flow to the heart signaling CAD.
Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. It helps your doctor determine whether all parts of your heart wall are contributing to your heart's pumping activity. If certain parts are moving weakly it can mean damage to muscle due to a heart attack or because of receiving too little oxygen- again signaling CAD.
Exercise Stress test: This test is done by making you do exercises like walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike during an ECG. Sometimes, medication to stimulate your heart may be used instead of exercise.
This again detects areas in your heart that receive less blood flow.

Cardiac catheterization or angiogram. A special dye is injected into your coronary arteries to observe blood flow through your heart in a test known as an angiogram.
The dye is sometimes also injected into the arteries through a long, thin, flexible tube called catheter that is threaded through an artery in your leg to the arteries in your heart. This procedure is called cardiac catheterization. This test is very good in diagnosing CAD as the dye outlines narrow spots and blockages on the X-ray images of your heart.
Heart scans. Computerized tomography or CT can help your doctor actually see calcium deposits in your arteries that can be narrowing your arteries. If a substantial amount of calcium deposits are found, coronary artery disease could be the reason.
MRI scans are also done to diagnose CAD.

Common Tests For Coronary Artery Disease!

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!

Dialysis is a very important and life-saving procedure. It is performed to replace kidney function in case of renal failure. Wastes and extra fluids in the blood are filtered out during this process. To be able to perform Dialysis, the connection between the patient s bloodstream and the equipment for performing Dialysis (dialyzer) outside the body is established. This connection is created through Dialysis Access Surgery. It is a type of Vascular Surgery which forms the vascular opening for access during Dialysis. Thus, Dialysis Access Surgery is the lifeline for the survival of the patient.

Types of Vascular Access for Dialysis- 
There are three types of Vascular Access for Dialysis: Arteriovenous (AV) Fistula, Arteriovenous (AV) Graft, and Venous Catheter.

  Arteriovenous (AV) fistula is a surgical connection of an artery to a vein. An AV fistula is usually placed in the upper arm or in the forearm. It causes extra blood to flow into vein making it grow large. A larger vein hence provides easy access to blood vessels. An AV fistula is preferred over other methods as it lasts longer than other methods of access and provides a good flow of blood. Moreover, it is less prone to infection and blood clots than other methods. Before an AV Surgery, a Vessel Mapping Test is sometimes performed for assessing the blood vessels most suitable for Dialysis. An AV fistula is performed under local anaesthesia and requires two to three months for maturation before hemodialysis. If it fails to mature, the procedure is repeated.

  Arteriovenous (AV) graft is performed when AV fistula fails to mature. It is hence the second most preferred choice for long-lasting access to vascular tissues for Dialysis. An AV graft is a looped plastic tube which establishes a connection between an artery and a vein. Like AV fistula, AV graft is also performed under local anaesthesia. It is slightly more difficult to maintain than an AV fistula.

  A venous catheter is used for short- term hemodialysis. It is a tube which is inserted into chest, neck, leg, or near groin for vascular access. After exiting the body, the tube splits into two halves. In the case where a renal disease has made quick progression leaving little or no time for the AV fistula or AV graft to mature, a venous catheter is used to establish the required vascular connection. This procedure is also performed under local anaesthesia. It is a tool for emergencies but is not suited for long- term use. It can cause narrow vein due to an infection,
scarring, or blood clot. If long- term venous catheter is used, it is tunnelled under the skin which has fewer problems associated with it and is more comfortable. 

How to Care for a Vascular Access?
  Get checked for infections and other problems before each hemodialysis session;
  Use the operated site for access only for the intended use;
  Always keep the access clean;
  Prevent cutting or bumping the access;
  Check for thrill/ vibration in the access and inform the doctor if any;
  Do not put pressure on the access site;
  Do not put blood pressure cuff around the access arm;
  Do not wear jewellery or tight-fitting garments over the site;
  Do not lift a weight.

Take Away-
Vascular Surgery for Dialysis is performed to provide vascular access for the procedure. AV fistula is the most preferred type followed by an AV graft. A venous catheter is recommended to be used only in case of an emergency when there is not much time left for the other two options to mature.

Vascular Surgery - Can It Help For Dialysis?

Your heart is the most important and vital organ of all and regulates the flow of heart to all parts of the body. Thus, the valves and the arteries which take the blood to your heart are also an important component in ensuring that the circulation is constant. Thus, any hindrance to this process will put a lot of pressure on your heart and lead to more serious problems in the long run. Coronary artery disease is one such problem and can seriously put the health of your heart at risk.

What is coronary heart disease?
Coronary arteries are very important blood vessels, which carry nutrients, blood and oxygen to your heart. If the level of bad cholesterol is high in your blood, it will start leaving deposits on the walls of the arteries which are commonly known as plaque. This plaque will start building up over time causing blockage of the arteries and disrupting proper blood flow. Excessive build up of the plaque may then rupture the lining of the plaque. This will then induce blood clotting and further prevent the normal flow of blood.

Symptoms
Primary symptoms may include

Shortness of breath: This may occur while you are exercising or performing activities which are mildly exerting.
Heart beats very hard and fast: Your heart may beat very hard and fast, especially when doing everyday activities such as climbing stairs or walking for a prolonged distance.
Angina or chest pain: You may experience pain in your chest as if someone was pressing against it with a lot of force. Angina is also triggered due to stressful activities or even emotional stress. It usually occurs on the left or the middle of the chest and may even be felt in the back, arms, and neck.
Heart attack: Heart attacks are the most common and the most serious complications of coronary heart disease. You would feel extreme pain, akin to crushing on your chest, shoulder, or arm. It may even be accompanied by jaw pain, and sweatiness.
Treatment
Non invasive forms of treatment are always preferable rather than invasive surgeries or procedures to treat coronary heart disease, especially where the risk of serious complications such as heart attack are still on the lower side. Some of the treatments used for coronary heart disease are as follows:

Making lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption along with consumption of regulated diet will automatically start cleaning plaque that has built up within the arteries. Losing weight also tends to help.
Medications: Special medications can take care of cases wherein the deposits are still lesser and the plaque buildup can be removed without the requirement of extensive surgery. Anti-cholesterol medications are one example of this.
Surgical procedures: These are usually employed when the blockage is severe and cannot be corrected by the conventional methods mentioned above. Some of the procedures are angioplasty, stent replacement, as well as coronary artery bypass surgery.

Coronary Artery Disease -  Know the Primary Signs!

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