Varicose

What are varicose veins?

Veins are blood vessels that return blood from all the organs in the body toward the heart. In healthy veins, the valves within them stop the blood from flowing back - they only allow blood to flow in one direction. If the valves are damaged or weakened, they may allow the blood to flow backward and accumulate in the vein, making it varicose. 

Varicose simply means enlarged or swollen. Veins can bulge with pools of blood when they fail to circulate the blood properly. These visible and bulging veins, called varicose veins, are more common in the legs and thighs, but can develop anywhere in the body.

 

Symptoms

Varicose veins may not cause any pain. Signs you may have with varicose veins include:

Veins that are dark purple or blue in color

Veins that appear twisted and bulging; often like cords on your legs

When painful signs and symptoms occur, they may include:

An achy or heavy feeling in your legs

Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs

Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time

Itching around one or more of your veins

Bleeding from varicose veins

Color changes, inflammation of the skin or skin ulcers near your ankle

Who gets varicose veins?

Varicose veins are very common. Some estimates suggest that about 10% to 15% of men and most older women who have varicose veins.

**A family history of varicose veins and older age increase one's tendency to develop varicose veins.

Cause of varicose vein

The veins have one-way valves that allow blood through, but not back, so that the blood travels in only one direction. If the walls of the vein become stretched and less flexible (elastic), the valves may get weaker. A weakened valve may allow blood to leak backward, and eventually flow in the opposite direction. When this occurs, blood can accumulate in the vein(s), which becomes enlarged and swollen. Muscle contractions in lower legs act as pumps, and elastic vein walls help blood return to your heart.

Risk factors for varicose veins

• Sex - females are much more likely to have varicose veins on their legs than males; it is believed that female hormones may relax veins. Therefore, taking birth control pills may also contribute to varicose veins.
• Genetics - varicose veins often run in families.
• Overweight/obesity
• Age - the older we get, the more likely we are to develop varicose veins due to general wear and tear on vein valves.
• Some jobs or (Standing or sitting for long periods of time) - jobs where the individual has to spend a long time standing up may raise the probability of having varicose veins.

Pregnancy - Some pregnant women develop varicose veins. Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but decreases the flow of blood from your legs to your pelvis. This circulatory change is designed to support the growing fetus, butit can produce an unfortunate side effect — enlarged veins in your legs.

Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment three to 12 months after delivery.

  When to see a doctor?

Self-care such as exercise, elevating your legs or wearing compression stockings can help you ease the pain of varicose veins and may prevent them from getting worse. But if you're concerned about how your veins look and feel and self-care measures haven't stopped your condition from getting worse, see your doctor.

Complications linked to varicose veins

Any condition in which proper blood flow is undermined has a risk of complications. However, in the majority of cases, varicose veins have no complications. If complications do occur, they may include:

Ulcers-Extremely painful ulcers may form on the skin near varicose veins, particularly near the ankles. See your doctor immediately if you suspect you've developed an ulcer.

Bleeding. Occasionally, veins very close to the skin may burst. This usually causes only minor bleeding. But, any bleeding warrants medical attention because there's a high risk it can happen again.

Blood clots. Occasionally, veins deep within the legs become enlarged. In such cases, the affected leg may swell considerably. Any sudden leg swelling warrants urgent medical attention because it may indicate a blood clot.

Chronic venous insufficiency - this is when the skin does not exchange oxygen, nutrients, and waste products with the blood properly because the blood flow is weak.

Diagnosing varicose veins

A physical examination, mainly visual, by a qualified doctor will decide whether or not a patient has varicose veins.

The following diagnostic tests are sometimes ordered:

Doppler test - an ultrasound scan to check the direction of blood flow in the veins. This test also checks for blood clots or obstructions in the veins.

Color duplex ultrasound scan - this test provides color images of the structure of veins, which helps the doctor identify any abnormalities; it can also measure speed of blood flow.

Treating and preventing varicose veins

In general, doctors are conservative when treating varicose veins. You’ll probably be advised to make changes to your lifestyle, instead of trying more aggressive treatments. A number of patients, may experience swelling, aching, and painful legs. If the patient is in considerable discomfort or complications, treatment is required.

1-Lifestyle changes

• Avoid standing for extended periods of time.
• Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise to improve your circulation.
• Use compression socks or stockings.

If you already have varicose veins, you should take these steps to prevent new varicose veins. You should also elevate your legs whenever you’re resting or sleeping.

2-Compression

Your doctor may advise you to wear special compression stockings. Compression stockings exert a precisely defined, external mechanical pressure on the veins and the leg to assist valve function. It's a simple and effective noninvasive treatment
for varicose veins and its related symptoms. It reduces the risk of varicose vein or prevents existing conditions of varicose veins from worsening. The pressure these stockings put on your legs helps your blood vessels work better. Compression stockings can keep your legs from getting tired and achy. Check with your doctor about how often and how long you need to use them.

**These stockings typically lose some degree of the compression over time so they may need to be replaced regularly

Who Uses compression stocking/ varicose stocking?

·People with or at risk for circulation problems, like Deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, or diabetes

·People who've just gotten surgery

·Those who can't leave their bed or have a hard time moving their legs

·People who stand all day at work

·Pregnant women

·People who spend long stretches of time on airplanes, like pilots

 

3-Surgery

If lifestyle changes aren’t working, or if your varicose veins are causing a lot of pain or damaging your overall health, your doctor might try a surgery procedure.