Varicose veins, or varicosis, are a medical condition where an individual has enlarged veins on the skin of their ankle, foot, or leg. This is due to having weak-walled veins or compromised valves, which cause blood to build up and create noticeable and sometimes painful veins. Each of the signs is quite innocent, such as pain, swelling, calf cramps at night or inflammation in the legs(Cellulitis), and, at their worst, can be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), indicating veins that are unable to push blood into the heart.
Varicose veins are a very prevalent disorder; about 25 to 30 per cent of men have varicose veins, and a majority of women in a given age group have the same.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone can get varicose veins; certain factors increase the risk. It is beneficial to know these conditions, so people can take care of themselves when they're young. If varicose veins run in your family, your chances of developing them increase. The older you are, especially over 50, the veins become less flexible to a certain extent and start working less efficiently, and varicose veins become more likely to form. This happens more in females, especially if you're on birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, as these weaken your vein walls. While pregnant, your expanding uterus compresses on your veins, causing blood volume and your hormone levels to rise. All these factors can cause your veins to swell, leading to varicose veins on your legs.
It compresses the veins, preventing the free flow of blood in the desired direction, which results in varicose veins. Prolonged standing or sedentary life style can reduce blood flow, causing it to accumulate in your legs and further aggravating the symptoms due to varicose veins.
Smoking damages the blood vessels, making vein issues more probable, further raising the risk of Varicose Veins. Any injury in the leg has the potential to damage the veins or valves, which may cause varicose veins later on.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Although varicose veins can't be cured, some non-surgical treatments will have you feeling and looking better:
Leg Elevation: Elevating legs above heart level for a few minutes in sitting or reclining positions several times a day decreases pressure on leg veins, as well as assists blood back to the heart.
Compression Stockings: The stockings produced a graded pressure along the legs, thereby helping in the pooling of blood and edema reduction. The doctor must prescribe pressure and fit levels; therefore, ideally, it should be performed when the legs are not edematous.
Sclerotherapy: Varicose veins via sclerotherapy involves injecting a liquid or foam into the defective surface veins. The vein initially becomes blood-clotted and subsequently reduces to allow the blood flow to be rerouted to other, more normal veins. It is more effective when injected into smaller surface varicose veins and is a daycare procedure.
Radiofrequency Ablation Treatment: Radiofrequency ablation treatment involves applying high energy to vaporize the Truncal varicose veins, eliminating the need for needles or surgery. Treatment involves single session under local anesthesia requiring short stay and immediate recovery to routine life and relief from symptoms of varicose veins.
Progression Prevention: Varicose veins can recur, but non-surgical treatment and lifestyle modification can prevent or at least alleviate symptoms and prevent disease progression. Regular follow-up with your doctor to monitor and optimize your treatments can play a more active role in managing your vascular system.