Varicose veins is a medical condition where the veins become large and swollen and begin to appear so especially on the legs and feet though any vein can become varicose. This happens when the valves do not function properly and allow the blood to flow in the opposite direction or to pool. Due to this, the veins enlarge, and they begin to appear blue or dark purple on the skin. Legs and feet are the most commonly affected areas because standing or walking increases the pressure on the veins in the lower part of the body.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins
Apart from the twisted and bulging appearance like cords in blue and dark purple, varicose veins may include other painful symptoms as well such as-

Throbbing feeling and aching, heavy feeling in the legs.
Muscle cramping and swelling in the legs.
Severe pain after sitting or standing for a long period of time.
Bleeding varicose pains.
Treatment for Varicose Veins
In severe cases, varicose veins may rupture and form varicose ulcers on the skin. To avoid complications, it is best to get varicose veins treated before it worsens. Varicose veins can be treated in two ways- either by surgeries or by non-surgical methods, that is, by home remedies, medicines or non-invasive methods.

Surgical methods to treat Varicose Veins
Vein Stripping - Under general anesthesia, two cuts are made one below the groin and one behind the knee joint. The affected vein is then tied or clamped off at the top incision using a technique called vein ligation
Phlebotomy is another method where smaller incisions are made along the vein and using surgical instruments, the vein is pulled out.
Though treating varicose veins by surgeries is the most effective method, it involves several risks. Patients take a longer time to recover from surgeries than non-surgical methods. The sedation may cause complications. Chances of nerve injuries cannot be negated which may lead to fatal conditions such as deep vein thrombosis.

Non-surgical methods to treat Varicose Veins

Radiofrequency ablation is a method in which heat generated electromagnetic waves are used to close off the veins.
Endogenous laser ablation- in this case, lasers are used to close off veins.
Sclerotherapy is another method where a liquid or foam is injected into the affected vein to close it off.
Although big veins cannot be treated by these methods or additional treatments may be required, these methods are not only effective but also free from cuts and stitches or anesthesia. Performance of these treatments need not always take place in hospitals, special clinics can cure varicose veins using these methods. It is always advisable to consult doctors for treating varicose veins who can suggest the best treatment needed to cure varicose veins.


Surgical & Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Varicose Veins - Which Is Better?

What are varicose veins? 
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that typically develop in the legs and the feet. This condition is triggered when there is something wrong with the valves of the veins. When the valves do not function properly, blood flow to all parts of the body is disrupted. Since the legs are the farthest part of the body from the heart, gravity makes it difficult for blood to flow up to the heart. It is a common affliction and affects nearly 25% of the adult population all across the world and 10 million people in India are diagnosed with it every year. The raised veins just under the top layer of the skin appear to be purplish-blue.

Varicose veins are common in people who are -
  Above 50 years of age
  Long stretch sitting
  Pregnant
  Menopausal
  Obese
If someone in your family has a history of varicose veins, you are quite likely to get it too.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
Varicose veins are characterized by the following symptoms -
  The most obvious symptom is the large twisty veins
  Pain all down the length of your legs
  Discoloration of the skin of the legs and feet

Diagnosis of varicose veins -
The doctor usually diagnoses varicose veins by a physical examination. An ultrasound may determine if your flow of blood is affected. It is a non-invasive procedure and is done with the help of high-frequency sound waves.
You may even have to undergo a venogram. The doctor injects a colored dye into your veins and X-rays them. The dye gives an indication of how well your blood is flowing through the veins.

Treatment of varicose veins -
There are several treatment options for varicose veins-

Vascular surgery - When the other methods do not work, doctors prescribe vascular surgery.
Ligation and stripping - through this surgery, the surgeon ties up the vein to prevent pooling of blood in the veins and sometimes the vein itself is removed.
Sclerotherapy - the doctor injects a chemical right into the varicose vein which closes it.
Radiofrequency ablation - the doctor uses radiofrequency to heat the varicose vein up, which makes the walls collapse
Varicose veins are a painful condition that can be avoided if you implemented a few changes to how you live your life and even if you do get them, there are ways to cure them.

In Detail About Varicose Vein & Its Treatment!

The veins are a type of blood vessels which collect impure blood from all parts of the body and return it to the heart. The veins in the legs especially are quite thick and need to exert extra pressure to pump blood against gravity towards the heart. In quite a few people, these veins could be engorged, swollen, and twisted, which are known medically as varicose veins.

Causes:
Defective or damaged valves in the blood vessels. Normally, the blood flow is controlled by valves which ensure blood flows in the desirable direction. When these valves are not able to control the flow of blood, then varicose veins can return
Thin vein walls can lead to improper flow of blood, resulting in varicose veins

Risk factors:

Prolonged standing
Obesity
Pregnancy
Smoking
Surgery in the leg, which could have hampered the values or veins
Age, as the elasticity of the vessels, reduces with age and can impede normal blood flow
Family history
Symptoms:

Blue, swollen veins in the legs which are thin and ropy
Pain with prolonged standing followed by pain and tenderness
Itching and heaviness in the legs
Cramping in the night
Blood clots in the superficial vessels
Severe varicose veins can cause bleeding
The area around the leg feels firm and/or hard
There could be skin changes like scaling, dryness, and color changes
Increased propensity to bleed in the affected leg
Diagnosis:

Usually easily diagnosed in clinical examination
The above-listed features are very characteristic and help in identifying them
Further testing may be done to identify the problematic valve, usually using a tourniquet
Doppler ultrasound, scanning, and MRI may be required to confirm diagnosis, which are quite rarely used
Prevention/Treatment:

Keep the legs elevated as much as possible. During working hours, take short breaks where you are able to elevate the legs
Even in prolonged journeys, try to take a break which will improve circulation
Quit smoking
Compression stocking (Ted hose or Jobst stocking) can be used to improve circulation. They also help in controlling pain and are very commonly recommended to treat varicose veins
Avoiding alcohol, which leads to venous dilation
Weight management, as being overweight is a big risk factor
Do not cross legs when sitting, as it puts constant pressure on the valves
Avoid tight clothing which can put pressure on the veins and/or valves
Keep a regular exercise regimen like walking to improve blood flow
Surgical treatment options include sclerotherapy, laser treatment, and stripping off the vein, but are not usually required.

Varicose Veins - 9 Signs You Are Suffering From It!

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!

What is DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis is a kind of vascular disorder. It happens when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in the deep vein anywhere in the body. It especially develops in the legs. This is a grave ailment and can actually be fatal for you unless you seek treatment right away.

What are the symptoms of DVT?

A worrying feature of deep vein thrombosis is that in most cases it shows no symptoms in the earlier phases. Moreover, what makes diagnosis hard is that even when symptoms manifest, they are very similar to those of other disorders like tissue or muscle inflammation or arthritis.

Here are some typical deep vein thrombosis symptoms:

  One or both of your legs become swollen
  Your legs feel tender and hurt a lot in all postures
  The skin of your legs always feel hot to the touch
  Your skin looks blotchy or discoloured
  You bleed when you cough
  Wheezing and breathing problems
  Dizziness
  Frequent and sharp chest pain

Who is susceptible to DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis usually happens when you sit or lie in one position for long stretches of time especially when you are recuperating after an illness or surgery. It can also happen to you for other reasons-

  Injury: An injury to your legs can narrow the blood vessels and that reduces the blood flow through the veins. That is why blood clots can develop there.
  Pregnancy: The additional weight that woman has to carry in the course of her pregnancy exerts extra pressure on the veins of the legs and pelvis and thus clots may form in the veins.
  Contraceptive pills: Birth control pills raise the chances of a woman getting deep vein thrombosis by four times.
  Obesity: Obesity means forcing extra pressure onto your veins.
  Smoking: Smoking interferes with the flow of blood through your veins and raises the possibility of getting blood clots.
  The family history of deep vein thrombosis: if anyone in your family has deep vein thrombosis, you might contract it too because it is hereditary.

Complications:

DVT becomes lethal if the blood clot becomes dislodged and travels from the legs to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. This can lead to blockage of the artery of the lung and in that case, a person may die.

Treatment for deep vein thrombosis:

Treatment for DVT includes both invasive and non-invasive vascular techniques.

  Blood-thinning medicines: They prevent blood platelets from clumping together and reduce the size of the existing clots.
  Thrombolytic drugs: If medicines are not effective, work, these drugs will be injected into your veins. They travel down the veins to where the blockage is and disintegrate the clots so that blood can once again flow through the vein uninterrupted.
  Compression stockings: They exert pressure on the vein containing the clot, prevent it from moving, and do not allow new clots to develop. You have to wear them throughout the day.
  Surgery: In very rare cases, when non-invasive methods have no effect, you may have to undergo a kind of vascular surgery called venous thrombectomy. The surgeon will make a minute incision in the vein where the clot is lodged, siphon it out and then repair the damaged vein.

Deep vein thrombosis is easily curable with treatment. Do not delay it, as DVT has the potential to kill you.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - All You Should Know About It!

Varicose veins are a painful swelling of the veins of the legs. The raised veins just under the top layer of the skin appear to be purplish blue. It is a common affliction and affects nearly 25% of the adult population all across the world and 10 million people in India are diagnosed with it every year.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that typically develop in the legs and the feet. This condition is triggered when there is something wrong with the valves of the veins. When the valves do not function properly, blood flow to all parts of the body is disrupted. Since the legs are the farthest part of the body from the heart, gravity makes it difficult for blood to flow up to the heart.

Varicose veins are common in people who are:

  Above 50 years of age
  Lead a lifestyle that requires them to be on their feet for long stretches of time
  Pregnant
  Menopausal
  Obese

If someone in your family has a history of varicose veins, you are quite likely to get it too.

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

Varicose veins are characterized by the following symptoms-

  The most obvious symptom is the large twisty veins
  Pain all down the length of your legs
  Discolouration of the skin of the legs and feet

Diagnosis of varicose veins:

The doctor usually diagnoses varicose veins by a physical examination. She/he may also suggest an ultrasound to determine if your flow of blood is affected. It is a non-invasive procedure and is done with the help of high-frequency sound waves.

You may even have to undergo a venogram. The doctor injects a coloured dye into your veins and X-rays them. The dye gives an indication of how well your blood is flowing through the veins.

Treatment of varicose veins:

There are several treatment options for varicose veins-

  Compression socks: these socks exert pressure on the swollen veins and make it easy for blood to flow upwards. They also bring down the swelling.

Vascular surgery:

When the other methods do not work, doctors prescribe vascular surgery.

  Ligation and stripping: Through this surgery, the surgeon ties up the vein to prevent pooling of blood in the veins and sometimes the vein itself is removed.
  Sclerotherapy: The doctor injects a chemical right into the varicose vein which closes it.
  Radiofrequency ablation: The doctor uses radiofrequency to heat the varicose vein up, which makes the walls collapse

Lifestyle changes:

A few changes to your lifestyle can help you avoid the menace of varicose veins-

  If your job requires you to stand for extended periods, squeeze out a few minutes so that you can sit down, that allows blood to flow normally up to your legs.

  If you are overweight, lose weight immediately.

  Exercise regularly because that keeps your heart healthy and improves blood circulation.

Varicose veins are a painful condition that can be avoided if you implemented a few changes to how you live your life and even if you do get them, there are ways to cure them.

Varicose Veins - How Does Vascular Surgery Help?

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