How to Treat Varicose Veins Problem?

Any vein in the body which is superficial can get varicosed. Varicose veins are the veins which are swollen, large and twisted. These veins can be generally seen on the feet and legs of an individual. Varicose veins can be identified by their dark purple or blue color. The problem of varicose veins appears when the functioning of the valves in the veins gets inhibited which leads to improper blood flow. Varicose veins can be generally observed in the legs of an individual as walking and standing increases the pressure on the veins present in the lower part of the body. Treatment for varicose veins may be rarely required for health purposes, however, if the affected body part starts to pain, swells up, and causes considerable discomfort in walking or standing then several treatment options are available.

In the majority of the cases, the varicose veins may not cause any discomfort or pain in the body part where they appear. However, the varicose veins may be identified by the signs given below

• The veins that will be appearing would be bulging and twisted.
• The color of the veins would be either blue or dark purple.

Some patient suffering from the problem of varicose veins may experience the following symptoms

• Pain in the legs
• Heaviness in legs
• Swelling in the ankles
• The skin of the affected area may become itchy, dry, and red.
• People experiencing leg cramps while standing up suddenly
• Itching around the veins
• Telangiectasia may appear
• A minor injury in the affected area may cause prolonged bleeding

Damage or weakness in the valves of the veins can cause varicose veins to appear. Arteries originating from the heart carry the blood to various parts of the body. The blood gets recirculated to the heart from the veins. The veins which are present in the leg have to carry the blood against the gravitational force. Besides the weakness of the valves in the veins, other causes which may lead to the development of varicose veins problems are inclusive of the medical conditions like obesity, chronic constipation, blood clots inhibiting the flow of blood, phlebitis, and hereditary abnormality of the veins.

While treating the problem of varicose veins the doctors usually undertake a conservative approach. If the varicose veins are not causing any pain or discomfort then the doctor may advise a patient to make the following changes in his/her lifestyle

• Regular exercise to improve the circulation of the blood.
• Sitting or standing for long periods of time must be avoided at any cost.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend a patient to wear compression stockings or socks so that adequate pressure can be exerted on the legs. This pressure helps in improving the flow of blood along with reducing the swelling in the affected area.

If the condition of varicose veins is severe and is causing considerable pain and discomfort then a doctor may recommend surgery of the affected area. Surgical treatment of vein ligation and stripping can be conducted by the doctor. A patient undergoing this treatment is given anesthesia. As of today, there are various minimally invasive surgeries which can be performed to provide relief in the problem of varicose veins. These include

• Endoscopic vein surgery: for blocking off a vein a miniature lighted scope is placed through the small incision made by the doctor.
• Endovenous ablation therapy: in this treatment, the veins are blocked using radiofrequency and heat.
• Sclerotherapy: in this, a vein is blocked by using an injection of chemical either in the form of foam or liquid. This therapy is done for the larger veins.
• Microsclerotherapy: in this treatment, the small veins are blocked using a liquid chemical injection.
• Laser surgery: the veins of the affected part are blocked off by making use of light energy.

In the majority of the cases, the varicose veins appear on the legs and feet of an individual. However, the occurrence of the varicose veins on other parts of the body is also not uncommon. Some of the body parts where the varicose veins problem can occur are given below

Genitals: it has been observed that varicose veins appear on the genital areas of both the male and the female. During the pregnancy, it can appear due to an increase in the volume of blood and increased pressure due to the weight of the fetus. For males, the condition of varicose vein is surprisingly very common in their genital area. It can be referred to as varicoceles. The varicose veins appear in the scrotum area.

Arms: it is very unusual to observe varicose veins on the arms but still it has occurred in a few cases. The reason for the occurrence of varicose veins on the arms is similar to that of the appearance of varicose veins in the legs.

Oesophagus: when a person is suffering from the severe condition of liver disease like cirrhosis, the varicose veins can appear in the oesophagus. The damage to the tissues of the liver leads to the inhibited blood supply to stomach and oesophagus thereby causing varicose veins to reappear. Rectum: the condition of hemorrhoids is due to the development of varicose veins in the rectum.

Pelvis: the appearance of varicose veins in the pelvic area leads to the development of the condition referred to as PVCS (pelvic venous congestion syndrome).

Given below are certain factors which increase the chances of occurrence of varicose veins problems.

• Obesity: a person that is overweight would generally develop this condition as enormous pressure is exerted on the veins due to the excessive weight of the person.
• Family history: there is an increased possibility of the occurrence of this condition if any of the family members previous suffered from the condition of varicose veins.
• Pregnancy: the amount of blood in the body increases during the pregnancy which can lead to veins getting enlarged. Also, certain hormonal changes due to pregnancy can cause the problem of varicose veins to appear.
• Age: the chances of occurrence of the condition of varicose veins increases in people above the age of 50 years as aging causes the wear and tear in the valves of the veins.
• Sitting or standing for long duration: if a person is in a specific position of sitting or standing for a long duration of time either to the job requirement or for any other reason the blood flow in the lower part of the body gets hampered. This leads to the occurrence of varicose veins problem.

There is no specific measure which can help in preventing the problem of varicose veins. However, incorporating certain activities in the daily routine can help in improving the blood circulation which further reduces the chances of occurrence of this condition. Some of the measures which can be undertaken to reduce the risk of varicose veins are

• A person should regularly change his/her sitting or standing position.
• A person should consume a nutritious diet comparison of food products rich in fiber.
• The legs must be elevated while sleeping.
• Avoiding clothes that are tight.
• Wearing loose footwear.
• Maintaining a healthy body weight.
• Exercising regularly.

In order to diagnose the problem of varicose veins, a doctor may initially conduct a physical examination to examine and look for any pain or swelling in the affected area. Since usually, this condition occurs in the lower part of the body thus a doctor may ask the patient to stand for a while before he/she makes his/her observation. Apart from the physical examination, a doctor may order the following diagnostic test to confirm the condition of varicose veins Color duplex ultrasound scan: this test is conducted to check the structure of the veins along with measuring the speed of the blood flow in the veins.

Doppler test: this test is ordered by the doctor to check for the presence of any obstructions or clots in the veins. This test also helps in identifying the direction in which the blood is flowing.