Varicose veins are a common condition that affects many adults.
Statistics show that this disease is more common in women than men. These veins appear on the legs and become more common as you age.
In this article, we mention other important facts about varicose veins, we provide the appropriate photos to better understand what they look like, what they are and how to treat them.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are abnormally dilated veins that most commonly form in the legs. Typically blue, purple or leather.
Looks like dilated, twisted, and bulging blood vessels that can protrude above the surface of the skin.
What are poker?
Spider veins (also known as telangectasias or spider veins, vascular system) are a collection of tiny blood vessels that form near the surface of the skin.
Often red, blue, or purple, and web-like in appearance. The most common spider veins are found on the face and legs.
What causes varicose veins?
Varicose veins are caused by structural abnormalities in the blood vessels.
The veins carry blood back to the heart from different parts of the body. They have a one-way valve to prevent blood from flowing back.
For various reasons, these valves can be damaged, which can cause blood to return to the veins. Further stagnation of the blood increases the pressure in the vein and weakens the vessel wall.
Arachnoids and varicose veins then form due to stagnation of the blood and dilation of the affected vessels.
Reason for improvement?
A number of different risk factors increase a person's chances of developing a varicose vein.
These are:
- old age,
- prolonged standing or sitting,
- obesity,
- pregnancy,
- hormone therapy,
- You are taking birth control pills,
- injuries,
- previous venous surgery,
- medical history of venous thrombosis,
- Family history.
Symptoms of varicose veins
Varicose veins show no symptoms or signs other than their often undesirable cosmetic appearance. However, some people may experience certain symptoms of varicose veins.
Symptoms may include:
- edema,
- throbbing sensation
- aching pain,
- burning sensation,
- itching,
- severity,
- Tingling or cramps in the legs.
These symptoms often worsen after prolonged sitting or standing. Individuals may develop brown skin tones and eventually trophic ulcers.
Complications of varicose veins
Failure to treat varicose veins can result in the following:
- Trophic skin ulcers develop. These open wounds usually appear on the lower leg. Sometimes they can lead to a soft tissue infection.
- Blood clots form in the veins (superficial thrombophlebitis).
- Possible bleeding from the veins.
Diagnosing the vascular network and varicose veins of the legs
The presence of leg varicose veins can be diagnosed by a thorough examination of the affected area, which is usually located on the legs.
The examination consists of a visual examination and a touch of the problem area. Particular attention is paid to redness, edema, skin discoloration, and trophic ulcers.
Home treatment
You can use different methods at home to ease some of your symptoms if they do occur. These conservative methods can also help prevent possible complications.
Compression stockings
Compression stockings are a simple home treatment measure that makes it easier to relieve foot symptoms.
They improve blood circulation by increasing the pressure in the legs. These stockings are of different types and compressive strengths. Your doctor can recommend a suitable pair for you. They are usually sold in pharmacies.
Lifestyle change
Regular exercise and weight loss programs can help relieve the symptoms of arachnids and varicose veins.
Stakeholders should avoid standing or sitting for extended periods of time and lifting their legs while sitting or sleeping to improve circulation and reduce foot swelling.
Sclerotherapy
Conservative treatment of varicose veins at home may not produce the desired results. In these cases, more specialized medical procedures can be performed, depending on the location and size of the abnormal veins.
These medical procedures are often performed for cosmetic reasons.
Sclerotherapy is a common method that a doctor can perform; it is very effective in eliminating most spider veins and some varicose veins.
In this non-anesthetic procedure, the doctor injects a liquid solution directly into the affected vein, causing it to stick together and disappear. Multiple sessions may be required to achieve optimal results. Possible side effects include bruises, swelling, bleeding, infections, and discoloration of the skin.
Sclerotherapy: before and after
Sclerotherapy treatments may require multiple treatments and the recovery time may vary from person to person.
Generally, spider veins begin to disappear within 3 to 6 weeks after treatment, while varicose veins may take several months to improve.
Laser treatment of varicose veins
Laser therapy is another alternative medical procedure that can be performed by a doctor. It is sometimes used in addition to sclerotherapy to maximize results. This technique is most effective for spider veins and small varicose veins.
For patients who are afraid of needles, laser therapy offers an alternative treatment option, although a doctor can advise you on which treatment is best for your situation.
Laser therapy uses a focused beam of light that warms the affected vessel, which eventually disappears.
Possible side effects include mild redness or swelling around the treated area, discoloration of the skin, blisters, and rarely scarring.
Laser therapy is a recently developed method of treating varicose veins in which the affected area is treated with different ranges of light pulses.
Laser therapy: before and after the procedure
As with sclerotherapy, multiple laser treatments are often required to achieve optimal results. Development can take weeks to several months after treatment.
Venous surgery
Surgery is a treatment option for more severe cases of varicose veins. Your doctor will discuss with you the various possible surgical procedures to help you decide which varicose vein treatment is best for you. One method of surgery is to connect and remove veins through small incisions in the skin.
Venous surgery: before and after treatment
Retraction and vein removal are often successful in treating varicose veins symptoms and cosmetic problems. This operation is performed under local, spinal or general anesthesia in a hospital.
Surgery usually takes 2-4 weeks to fully recover. Possible complications include infection, bleeding, scarring, nerve damage, deep vein thrombosis, and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
Intravenous laser therapy
Intravenous laser therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves laser irradiation through a thin wire inserted into the affected vein, resulting in narrowing.
The initial success of intravenous laser therapy is 98%. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia or light sedation.
Patients report less pain and faster healing with intravenous laser therapy than ligation and surgical removal of veins.
Radiofrequency ablation
Intravenous radiofrequency ablation, like intravenous laser therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure.
A catheter inserted into a vein uses radio frequency energy instead of laser light, which heats and narrows the affected vessel.
As with intravenous laser therapy, patients report less pain and faster healing compared to ligation and surgical removal of veins.
Varicose vein prevention
Although varicose veins are not always preventable, there are various ways you can reduce their chances of developing them.
Prevention tips include:
- Regular exercise;
- Maintaining a healthy weight;
- Avoid prolonged sitting or standing;
- Avoid pinching your legs while sitting;
- Raise your legs higher while resting;
- Do not wear clothing that presses your body against your waist, groin and legs.
Dear friends. This article is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consulting a physician.