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?

Varicose veins are abnormal veins that usually appear as bulging, twisting, rope-like cords in the lower extremity. It is a very common condition, nearly affecting 25% of men and 40% women. Varicose veins occur when the valves in the veins do not properly function. As a result, blood cannot flow effectively.

Risk Factors

A number of factors can put you at risk of developing varicose veins. These may include  

  Heredity
  Gender
  Pregnancy
  Age
  Prolonged standing
  Obesity

Symptoms Associated with Varicose Veins

For many people, varicose veins develop without revealing any symptom. However, others may experience the following signs  

  Visible purple veins
  Heaviness in the calves
  Swelling and tenderness
  Leg tiredness
  Pain
  Blood clots

If the condition deteriorates, you may also encounter symptoms like  

  Ankle sores
  Skin ulcers
  Bleeding

If you have a severe case, your veins may rupture. Therefore, consult a doctor and get the condition treated before it worsens.

Treating Varicose Veins with Radiology

If conservative techniques   compression stockings, lifestyle changes, and others   fail to relive the symptoms or cure the condition, your doctor may recommend radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins.
Radiofrequency ablation involves using heat from an electric current produced by a radio wave to remove the damaged tissues. The procedure takes place in a hospital or a clinic under the supervision of a radiologist.
The specialist will first prep you up for the procedure   the appropriate leg will be prepared using sterile technique and you will be given local anaesthesia. Ablating the veins using laser takes only about a few minutes. Once the procedure is completed, the patient may be kept under observation briefly before being let off. However, he/she might have to wear a special compression stocking, as prescribed by the doctor, to speed up healing.

Varicose veins typically deteriorate over time despite making necessary lifestyle changes for pain management. The minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation procedure is an effective treatment for a condition as painful as varicose veins. It is safer than surgery with minimal risks. Since it is an outpatient procedure, the patient is allowed to walk away the same day.

Varicose Veins - Know All About Them!

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!

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged superficial veins that typically appear in the feet and legs.
For many people, the condition is simply a cosmetic concern while for others varicose veins include symptoms like swelling, discomfort and aching.

What Causes Varicose Veins?
Doctors believe that damaged or weak valves may cause varicose veins. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from your heart to other parts of the body and the veins send it back to your heart for recirculation. The veins of your lower body need to work against gravity in order to return the blood to your heart.
Muscle contractions in the extremities act as pumps while the elastic vein walls send blood back to the heart. Small valves open in your veins as blood flows to your heart, and then close again to prevent the blood from flowing back. If these valves become damaged or weak, blood may flow back and accumulate in the veins, causing it to twist or stretch.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins
You may experience the following signs if you have varicose veins  
  Discoloration of the veins   usually they appear blue or dark purple
  Legs feel heavy
  Itching around the affected veins
  Muscle cramps
  A throbbing, burning sensation
  Swelling and bruising
  Discomfort and pain the veins of the legs

The symptoms of varicose veins are quite prominent and require treatment. If the condition is not that severe, exercises and compression stockings may be prescribed to manage the symptoms. However, if you are looking for a long-term cure, laser treatment may be the best option for you.

Can Laser Treatment Cure Varicose Veins?
Your doctor may use highly focused laser beams to treat varicose veins. The laser emits heat, which forms scar tissues. The scar tissue closes the vein so it loses its source of blood and eventually dies. In a year or two, the vein is likely to disappear.

Here are the different types of laser treatment you can opt for  
  Simple Laser Treatment   The laser beams are focused on the outer surface of the skin. It helps cure the tiny veins that are located just beneath the skin. Normally, more than one session of laser treatment is required. Your doctor may schedule you for a session every 6-12 weeks.

  Endovenous Laser Treatment   This type of laser treatment is directed towards treating larger varicose veins that appear in the legs. The doctor passes a laser fiber through a catheter (a long, thin tube) into the veins. While doing this, he/she keeps a close watch on the veins through a duplex ultrasound screen.

Laser treatment is less painful than other procedures like vein stripping and ligation. The entire procedure can be done while you are on local anesthesia or sedatives. Moreover, the time for recovery is relatively short. You can expect to get back to your routine activities in a week or two following laser treatment.

Laser Treatment For Varicose Vein!

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

Blood clots can arise anywhere in your body. They develop when blood thickens and clumps together. When a clot forms in a vein deep in the body, it's called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein blood clots typically occur in the lower leg or thigh. But if your symptoms stem from a blood clot deep in your leg, it can be dangerous. Blood clots can happen to anyone, anytime. But some people are at increased risk. Therefore, they should immediately consult with vein specialist to avoid blood clot forming in the veins which can help avoid potentially serious problems.

DVT Symptoms:

"Deep vein thrombosis has classic symptoms - for example, swelling, pain, warmth, and redness on the leg," says Dr. Rajendra Bansal, a DVT treatment expert in Jaipur.  But about 30 40% of cases go unnoticed since they don't have typical symptoms.  In fact, some people don't realize they have a deep vein clot until it causes a more serious condition.

Deep Vein Clots:

DVT symptoms include deep vein clots - especially those in the thigh - can break off and travel through the bloodstream. If a clot lodges in an artery in the lungs, it can block blood flow and lead to a sometimes-deadly condition called pulmonary embolism. This disorder can damage the lungs and reduce blood oxygen levels, which can harm other organs as well.

Some people are more at risk for deep vein thrombosis than others. "Usually people who develop deep vein thrombosis have some level of thrombophilia, which means their blood clots more rapidly or easily," Dr. Bansal says, a DVT specialist in Jaipur. Getting a blood clot is usually the first sign of this condition because it s hard to notice otherwise. In these cases, lifestyle can contribute to a blood clot forming if you don t move enough, for example. Your risk is higher if you ve recently had surgery or broken a bone if you re ill and in bed for a long time, or if you're traveling for a long time (such as during long car or airplane rides).

Other Symptoms:

Having other diseases or conditions can also raise your chances of a blood clot. These include a stroke, paralysis (an inability to move), chronic heart disease, high blood pressure, surgical procedure, or having been recently treated for cancer. Women who take hormone therapy pills or birth control pills are pregnant, or within the first 6 weeks after giving birth are also at higher risk. So are those who smoke or who are older than 60. But deep vein thrombosis can happen at any age.

Chronic vs Acute DVT:

Chronic DVT refers to long-standing venous thrombosis present for more than 28 days.  It can either permanently block the vein or it can adhere to the wall of the vein.  Chronic DVT that doesn t block the vein can still cause long-term problems known as Post Thrombotic syndrome which occurs due to pooling of blood in legs by gravity as the protective valves are damaged or destroyed. Patient symptoms are:

Leg swelling after standing for long periods
Aching pain
Varicose veins
Skin ulcers in severe cases.
Acute DVT refers to venous thrombosis for which symptoms have been present for 14 days or less. The symptoms of acute DVT are sudden limb swelling and pain. During this period the clot is soft and easily treated with clot-dissolving drugs. The period between 14-28 days is called Sub-acute DVT.

Clues of a Clot:

Seek DVT treatment if you have these symptoms. They may signal a deep vein clot or pulmonary embolism:

Swelling of the leg or along a vein in the leg
Pain or tenderness in the leg, which you may feel only when standing or walking
Increase in warmth in the area of the leg that s swollen or painful
Red or discolored skin on the leg
Unexplained shortness of breath
Pain with deep breathing
Coughing up blood
A prompt diagnosis and a proper DVT treatment can help prevent the complications of blood clots. See your doctor immediately if you have any signs or symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. A physical exam and other tests can help doctors determine whether you ve got a blood clot.

Your doctor will diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) based on your medical history, a physical exam, and the color Doppler ultrasound or sometime may require CT or MRI. He or she will identify your risk factors and rule out other causes of your symptoms. After analyzing the risk factors, the doctor will tell you whether you need an immediate DVT treatment or not.

DVT Treatment

There are many ways in Deep Vein Thrombosis treatment. DVT treatment process includes medicines, certain devices, and therapies. The main goals of DVT treatment include:

Stopping the blood clot from getting bigger
To dissolve the already formed clot
Preventing the blood clot from breaking off and moving to your lungs
Reducing your chance of having another blood clot
To prevent long-term complication known as Post Thrombotic Syndrome.
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners):

These are the most common medicines in DVT treatment. These medicines decrease your blood s ability to clot. They also stop existing blood clots from getting bigger. However, blood thinners can t break up blood clots that have already formed. (The body dissolves most blood clots with time.)

Blood thinners are taken either as a pill, an injection under the skin, or through a needle or tube inserts into a vein (called intravenous or IV injection). There are different types of  Blood thinner. The choice of anticoagulant depends upon multiple factors, including the preference of the patient and the healthcare provider, the patient s medical history and other conditions, and cost considerations.

Initial anticoagulation is continued for 5 to 10 days. After that, long-term anticoagulation is continued for 3 to 12 months depending upon the patient profile, length of vessel involvement and risk of recurrence. In some patient where permanent risk factor like a congenital cause or cancer lifelong anticoagulation may require.

Other available treatments, which are for specific situations, include thrombolytic therapy or placing a filter in a major blood vessel (the inferior vena cava).

Thrombolysis (Clot-Busting DVT Treatment):

Minimally invasive procedures in DVT treatment are performed by an interventional radiologist under X-ray Guidance, if a patient has severe pain, difficulty in walking, significant swelling while on blood thinners, or if there is clot blocking the pelvic veins (iliac veins).  When performed early, thrombolysis is highly effective at dissolving a clot and preserving the valves in the veins.

It is designed to rapidly break up the clot, restore blood flow within the vein, and potentially preserve valve function to minimize the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. The interventional radiologist inserts a tiny tube called catheter into the vein behind the knee or other leg vein and threads it into the vein containing the clot using x-ray guidance. The catheter tip is placed into the clot and a  clot-busting  drug is infused directly to the thrombus (clot) followed by clot removal by special devices. The fresher the clot, the faster it dissolves   one to two days. Clinical resolution of pain and swelling and restoration of blood flow in the vein is greater than 85 percent with these invasive techniques.  In patients in whom thrombolysis or blood thinners are not medically appropriate, an interventional radiologist can insert a vena cava filter, a small device that functions as an umbrella to capture blood clots that would float to the lung, but allows normal liquid blood to pass.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS PREVENTION:

You can take simple steps to lower your chances for a blood clot:

Exercise your lower leg muscles if you re sitting for a long time while traveling.
Get out of bed and move around as soon as you re able after having surgery or being ill.
The more active you are, the better your chance of avoiding a blood clot.
Take any medicines your doctor prescribes to prevent clots after some types of surgery.
Wear compression stocking to prevent complication or recurrence as per instruction.
Keep regular follow-up with your doctor to avoid or prevent post DVT complication.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS:

Patients being treated for venous thrombosis are at an increased risk for developing another blood clot. The patient should watch for new onset leg pain or swelling. If these symptoms occur, the patient should speak to his/her health care provider or seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Risk of bleeding is high with anticoagulant so dose should not change unless the provider or clinic directs the patient to do so.
Patients may bleed easily from anywhere while taking anticoagulants. In some cases, bleeding can develop inside the body and can t notice immediately. Bleeding inside the body can cause a person to feel faint, or have pain in the back or abdomen. A healthcare provider should be notified immediately if there is any sign of this problem.

What is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - Symptoms,Treatment & Prevention

Coronary artery disease is characterized by accumulation of plaque in the coronary artery that chokes blood supply to the heart. This plaque buildup usually starts with cholesterol accumulation and gradually other particles such as calcium and lipoproteins get deposited as well. Over time, the plaque accumulates, making the blood vessels narrow and choking the supply of blood. In some cases, if the plaque ruptures, it may lead to formation of blood clots resulting in stroke.

The symptoms of coronary artery disease are:

1. Breathing difficulties: This disorder may lead to shortness of breath as the blood pumping mechanism of the heart is impaired; this usually results in fatigue and exertion. It is advised to avoid advanced cardio exercises such as the high intensity interval training.

2. Chest pain: Stress related activities may cause intense pressure or tightness in your chest, resulting in pain in the middle or left portion of your chest. If you discontinue the activity, the pain would usually subside. In some cases, you may feel the pain in the arm and the neck.

3. Heart attack: If the level of plaque accumulation is excessive, then it may result in a heart attack. It is characterized by breathing difficulties, pain, tightness in the chest and sweating. You may also experience pain in the neck and the jaw.

The causes of coronary artery disease are:
1. Smoking and alcohol consumption
2. Leading a sedentary lifestyle ups the risk of coronary artery disease
3. Hypertension
4. High cholesterol levels in the body
5. Blood sugar problems

Treatment
1. Get your blood pressure under control: If you suffer from high blood pressure, then it is recommended to get it under control to prevent coronary artery disease.
2. Quit smoking: If you are a habitual smoker, then it is time to nip the habit in the bud. Smoking is known to constrict blood vessels as it is a vasoconstrictor.
3. Eat healthy: Eat a well balanced diet consisting of vegetables and fruits so that your body receives the essential nutrients to function well.
4. Beat stress: You need to control your stress levels through exercise or meditation. Take time off work and do activities that make you happy.

Coronary Artery Disease: Causes and Treatment

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