Skip to main content

Varicose veins and Spider Veins

What are varicose veins ?

Varicose veins are veins under the skin of the legs which become widened , bulged and sometimes twisted.
They are very common and do not cause medical problems in most people

There are two main systems of the veins in the legs :
  • Deep veins : The leg muscles squeeze the deep veins during walking, carrying most of the blood back up the legs to the heart.
  • Superficial veins  : These occur under the skin which are less important and can form varicose veins.
All of these veins contain one way valves to ensure that the blood flows towards the heart. Failure of these valves allows blood to flow backwards down the veins and results in an overload of pressure when standing.
This excess pressure leads to widening of the veins so that they do not close properly. Blood then flows back into the leg along these veins and causes varicose veins to develop.
Raised pressure in these veins also encourages the development of spider veins and discolored areas which look like bruises.

What causes varicose veins ?

Varicose veins ans Spider veins often run in families and there may be a hereditary component. Women are more likely to suffer from varicose veins.  Hormonal factor including puberty, pregnancy , menopause , birth control pills. and hormone replacement affect the disease.

It is very common for pregnant women to develop varicose veins during the first trimester. pregnancy causes increase in hormone levels and blood volume which in turn cause veins to enlarge. The enlarged uterus causes increased pressure on the veins. 
Other predisposing factors include ageing , standing for long period of time , obesity and leg injury.

Symptoms :

Symptoms may include :
  • Color changes in skin
  • Sores on the legs
  • Rash
  • Sensation in the legs , such as heavy feeling , burning, and aching.
Severe varicose veins may eventually produce long term mild swelling that can result in more serious skin and tissue problems. These includes ulcers and non healing sores.

Diagnosis : 

Duplex ultrasound : A type of vascular ultrasound done to check blood flow and the structure of the leg veins. Duplex means two types of ultrasound are used.

Treatment : 

The treatment will depend on : 
  • Your age , overall health and medical history
  • Extent of the condition
  • sign and symptoms
  • Tolerance of specific medicines, and therapies
  • your preference
Medical treatment may include : 
  • Elevation of the legs : elevate your feet above the level of your heart for 10 to 15 min. It can reduce leg swelling and some more symptoms.
  • Compression stockings : It squeezes the veins and prevent blood from pooling.
  • Sclerotherapy : A salt or chemical solution is injected into the varicose veins . 
  • Thermal ablation : Lasers and Radiofrequency energy may be used to treat varicose veins.
  • Vein Stripping ; Surgery to remove varicose veins.
  • Microphlebectomy : special tools inserted through incision and used to remove varicose veins.
A video of exercise is attached here which will help you to get prevented from Varicose and Spider veins .


Complications : 

Varicose veins are usually not serious . But complications may happen : 

  • Inflammation or swelling of veins  
  • Blood clots

Can varicose veins be prevented ?

Steps to prevent varicose veins include : 
  • keeping a healthy weight
  • Exercising regularly
  • putting your feet up while sitting
  • Not crossing your legs while sitting
  • Not wearing tight clothing


Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubt. Let me know

Popular posts from this blog

DID PLACEBO EFFECT WORKS?

what is placebo effect? It is a phenomenon in which some people experience a benefit after the administration of inactive substance. A placebo is a fake treatment that in some cases it can produce a realistic result. This depends upon the expectation of the patient,the more a paerson expects the treatment will work, it is more likely to respond. Things that will influence the placebo effect includes                                                                          The nature of illness The belief system of the patient during treatment The expectation of the patient if fulfilling The positive message from the doctor about treatment EFFECT ON HORMONES Taking the placebo tretament triggered the release of endorphins. Endorphins have a similar structure as morphine and other opiate painkillers and act as the brains own natural painkillers. Other possible things include conditioning , motivation and expectation. People who are highly motivated
2 comments
Read more

CAN YOU DIE FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS(RA)?

WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS(RA)? Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body. It is a chronic disease marked by symptoms of inflammation and pain in the joints. It can also cause inflammation of organs such as the lungs, eyes, skin, and heart. There is no cure for RA, but medications can stop the progression of the disease  and ease symptoms. The  joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body. Treatment is possible when RA is diagnosed early. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The sign and symptoms of RA come and go, depending upon the degree of inflammation. When the body tissues are inflammed, the disease is active and when the tissue inflammation subsides the disease is inactive. THE SIGN AND SYMPTOMS INCLUDE; Fatigue low grade fever muscle and joint pain joint tenderness joint deformity loss of energy rheumatoid nodules loss of joint function limping stiffness Muscle and joint stiffness are usually seen in the
2 comments
Read more

DID FABIFLU IS THE MEDICINE OF COVID-19 ?

Fabiflu in COVID-19  As we know the vaccine is still a long distance away and no sign of the coronavirus infections slowing down in the country , homegrown pharmaceutical companies have been given permission to launch generic versions of Remdesivir and Favipiravir , anti-viral drugs that have shown promise in treating Covid-19 patients. Glenmark pharmaceuticles has launched favipiravir under the brand name FabiFlu for treatment of mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 , cipla and hetero labs have received approvals from the Drug Controller General of India to launch generic versions of Remedesivir under the names Cipremi and Covifor respectively. While medical experts have cautioned against seeing these potential drugs as a "magic bullet" against the deadly virus , they can be helpful in reducing the viral load as India continues to post new record highs in infection on a daily basis. Remedesivir and Favipiravir are two of the 130 under experimentation drugs worldwide to treat c
1 comment
Read more