Description

Varicose veins are bulging veins, enlarged veins. Any vein that is close to the surface of the skin, called the surface, it may become varicosed. Varicose veins most often affect the veins in the legs. That's because standing and walking increases the pressure in the veins of the lower part of the body.

For many people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. So are the spider veins, a mild form of varicose veins. But varicose veins can cause pain and discomfort. Sometimes lead to more serious health problems.

The treatment consists in the exercise, lift your legs when you are sitting or lying position, or wear compression stockings. A procedure can be done to close or remove the veins.

Symptoms

Varicose veins may not cause any pain. The symptoms of varicose veins include:

  • The veins that are dark purple, the blue or the same color as the skin. Depending on the color of the skin, these changes may be more difficult or more easy to see.
  • The veins look twisted and bulging. They often look like cords on your legs.

When there are symptoms of varicose veins, which may include:

  • A pain or a feeling of heaviness in the legs.
  • Burning, tingling, muscle cramps and swelling in the lower legs.
  • Worse pain after sitting or standing for a long time.
  • Itching around one or more of the veins.
  • Changes in the color of the skin around the varicose vein.

Spider veins are like varicose veins, but smaller. Spider veins are found closer to the surface of the skin and may resemble a spider's web.

Spider veins occur on the legs, but can also be found in the face. They vary in size and often look like a spider's web.

When to see a doctor

If you are concerned about how your veins look and feel and self-care measures do not help, consult your health care professional.

Causes

Weak or damaged valves can lead to varicose veins. The arteries carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The veins return blood to the rest of the body to the heart. To return blood to the heart, the veins in your legs must work against gravity.

The muscles are contracting at the bottom of the legs to act as pumps. The vein walls help blood return to the heart. Tiny valves in your veins open as blood flows toward your heart then close to prevent blood from flowing backwards. If these valves are weak or damaged, blood can flow backward and pool in the veins, causing the veins to stretch or twist.

Risk factors

The two main risk factors of varicose veins are:

  • The history of the family. If other family members have varicose veins, there is a greater chance that you will too.
  • Obesity. Being overweight increases the pressure in the veins.

Other things that may increase the risk of varicose veins include:

  • Age. Causes of aging and wear and tear on the valves in the veins that help control the flow of the blood. Over time, that wear causes the valves to allow blood to flow back into the veins, where it is collected.
  • Sex. Women are more likely to develop the disease. Hormones tend to relax the walls of the veins. The changes in hormones before a menstrual period or during pregnancy or menopause may be a factor. Hormonal treatments such as birth control pills, can increase the risk of varicose veins.
  • Pregnancy. During pregnancy, the volume of blood in the body increases. This change reinforces the growing baby, but it can also make the veins of the legs bigger.
  • Standing or sitting for long periods of time. The movement helps the flow of blood.

Complications

Complications of varicose veins are rare. These may include:

  • The ulcers. Painful ulcers may form on the skin near varicose veins, particularly near the ankles. A discolored spot on the skin often begins before an ulcer forms. Consult with your healthcare provider right away if you think you have an ulcer of the leg.
  • The blood clots. Sometimes, the veins deep within the legs make it bigger. Can cause leg pain and swelling. Seek medical help in a continuous leg pain or swelling. This can mean a blood clot.
  • The bleeding. Rarely, the veins close to the skin of the burst. This especially causes a mild bleeding. But you need medical help.
  • The swelling of the legs. For much of varicose veins may cause the legs to swell.

Prevention

Improving blood flow and muscle tone can decrease the risk of having varicose veins. In the same way that the treatment of the discomfort of varicose veins can help prevent them. Try the following:

  • Do not wear high heels or tight socks, apart from compression stockings.
  • Change the way you sit or stand often.
  • Eating a high-fiber, low-salt diet.
  • Exercise.
  • Elevate the legs when sitting or lying down.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.

Diagnosis

To diagnose varicose veins, a professional of the health examination. This includes looking at your legs while you're standing to check for swelling. You can ask to describe the pain and the pain in his legs.

Tests

To diagnose varicose veins, a health care provider may use a test called a venous Doppler ultrasound of the leg. It is a painless test that uses sound waves to see the flow of blood through the valves in the veins. A leg ultrasound can help to find a blood clot.

Treatment

Treatment for varicose veins may include measures of self-care, compression stockings, and surgeries or procedures. The procedures to treat varicose veins are often as outpatient procedures. That means that you most often go home the same day.

Ask your insurer if the treatment of varicose veins is a cost. If the varicose vein treatment is done only to make your legs look better, this is called aesthetics. Your insurance might not cover it.

Self-care

Things you can do to help relieve the pain of varicose veins include exercise, elevating the legs when sitting or lying down, or wear compression stockings. Self-care measures can also keep the veins from getting worse.

Compression stockings

Wearing compression stockings during the day is often the first approach to try. Stockings squeeze your legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood. The amount of pressure that varies according to the type and the brand.

You can find compression stockings in the majority of pharmacies and medical supply stores. You can also get prescription-strength medium. Insurance may cover your prescription if your varicose veins cause of the symptoms.

Surgeries or other procedures

If the measures of self-care and compression stockings do not work, or varicose veins are more severe, a health care provider may suggest surgery or other procedures:

  • Sclerotherapy.A health care professional injects varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes them. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. Some veins may need to take more than once. You don't need to be asleep for sclerotherapy. You can make a professional of the health of the office.
  • The laser treatment. The treatment with laser sending strong bursts of light into the varicose vein. This makes the vein slowly fade until you can't see. No cuts or needles are used.
  • Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy. This procedure is the most frequently used treatment for large varicose veins. A healthcare provider puts a thin tube called a catheter into an enlarged vein. Radiofrequency or laser energy heats the tip of the catheter. As the catheter is taken out, the heat destroys the vein, causing the cave and close.
  • High ligation and vein stripping.This procedure consists of the first to tie a varicose vein before the place where it joins a deep vein. The next step is the removal of the varicose veins through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure for most people. Removing the vein of not maintaining the flow of blood in the leg. That is because the deep veins of the leg take care of the large amounts of blood.
  • Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-tuh-me). A health professional to eliminate small varicose veins through tiny punctures in the skin. Only the parts of the leg that was pricked, rests in this outpatient procedure. More often than not there are a lot of scars.

Sclerotherapy. A health care professional injects varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes them. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade.

Some veins may need to take more than once. You don't need to be asleep for sclerotherapy. You can make a professional of the health of the office.

High ligation and vein stripping. This procedure consists of the first to tie a varicose vein before the place where it joins a deep vein. The next step is the removal of the varicose veins through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure for most people.

Removing the vein of not maintaining the flow of blood in the leg. That is because the deep veins of the leg take care of the large amounts of blood.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Try these lifestyle and home remedies for varicose veins:

  • Get regular exercise. Walking is a great way to help the flow of blood in the legs. Your healthcare provider may suggest a good level of activity for you.
  • Control the weight. Lose excess pounds takes the pressure off the veins.
  • Avoid salt. Follow a low-salt diet to prevent swelling, caused when the body is kept in the water.
  • Choose the right footwear. Do not wear high heels. Low-heeled shoes work calf muscles more. This is better for your veins.
  • Do not wear tight clothes. Tight clothing around your waist, legs or in the groin can reduce the flow of blood.
  • Lift your legs. To improve the flow of blood in the legs, taking a couple of breaks to the journal to raise your legs above the level of the heart. For example, lying down with the legs resting on three or four pillows. You can also raise the foot of the bed six inches.
  • Change position often. Do not sit or stand for long periods of time. Movement helps the flow of blood.

Preparing for your appointment

Your health care professional needs to look at his bare legs and feet to diagnose varicose veins, and find the treatment that would be best for your condition.

Your primary health care provider may suggest that you see a doctor who specializes in vein conditions, called a phlebologist or vascular surgeon, or a doctor who treats diseases of the skin, it is called a dermatologist or dermatology surgeon.

Here are ways to prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that may not seem linked to varicose veins, and when they began.
  • Important personal information, including a family history of varicose veins or spider veins.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What else could cause my varicose veins?
  • What tests are needed?
  • What treatment do you suggest?
  • How can I best manage varicose veins, along with other health problems you have?
  • What do I need to restrict the activities?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • When did you realize varicose veins?
  • Do you have pain? If so, how severe is it?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • Does anything seem to make your symptoms worse?

What you can do in the meantime

Before your appointment, you can begin self-care.

  • Try not to stand or sit in one position for a long time.
  • Elevate the legs when sitting.
  • Do not wear shoes that don't fit or tight socks or stockings, apart from compression stockings.
Symptoms and treatment of Varicose veins