The Why How What And When Of Varicose Veins
There are always a lot of questions regarding varicose veins. They look ugly, can ache, itch and make your legs feel heavy; it’s no wonder we want to know all we can about them. Only with knowledge can we expect to make a difference and bring a measure of comfort to ourselves.
How do we get varicose veins?
The purpose of veins is to bring blood that is in need of oxygen back to the heart where it gets pumped out through arteries to get re-oxygenated and then taken to all of the body parts again. Your muscles in your legs squeeze the blood back towards your heart and the valves in your veins act as one-way flaps to keep the blood flowing in one direction: towards the heart. When these valves become weak with age, disease or injury they work poorly and allow blood to go back down, away from the heart and the blood gets backed up in the veins causing them to bulge.
Why do we get them?
Varicose veins can occur during pregnancy when pressure from the expanding abdomen puts pressure on the lower body. Hemorrhoids are common in pregnancy and are varicose veins in and around the anus. Varicose veins also pop out for some pregnant women because of the pressure on the legs. Age can wear out the valves in the veins and cause them to not work properly. Standing or walking for prolonged periods of time can put a lot of pressure on the veins. Injury can also cause pressure on the veins.
What can be done about them?
Your healthcare professional can lead you to some helpful self-care methods that will either bring relief from varicose veins or help you to prevent them if you have a family history. Pregnant women are given special exercises than can strengthen legs to help prevent them and also advice regarding not crossing legs works well too. Spider veins, which are very small varicose veins and appear mainly on your nose, face and legs and can be prevented by wearing sunscreen. Once these spider veins appear they can be treated by way of microsclerotherapy, which is a procedure in which a dermatologist or surgeon will inject a solution into the vein which will cause the vein to swell, stick together and the seal shut. No blood can flow through this area of vein and eventually the vein becomes scar tissue and fades. Repeated treatments may be necessary. This procedure does not require anesthesia and can be done in the office.
Laser surgery is a relatively new technology, which is very effective in the treatment of spider veins that are 3 mm or smaller. The heat sensation of the laser can be quite painful. It may take 2 to 5 treatments before the spider veins are completely removed.
When is it necessary to see a healthcare professional about varicose veins?
You should seek medical attention if your vein becomes swollen, tender or red or warm to the touch. You should also seek medical attention if you notice a rash on your ankle or leg near where the varicose vein is or if you notice any signs of circulation problems.
Recommended Reading
- What You Need To Know About Varicose Veins
- Spider Veins Vs Varicose Veins
- More Natural Treatments For Varicose Veins
- Sitting Pretty With Varicose Veins
- Treatment Options For Varicose Veins
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