Everything You Need to Know about Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are those twisted and enlarged veins that can appear on the lower legs, as you are probably aware. You may have noticed that varicose veins are also extremely common – according to the Society for Vascular Surgery, more than one-third of people in the United States have them. However, if you are like many people, you may believe that these unsightly veins are only a cosmetic issue or that there is nothing you can do about them.

The truth is that if left untreated, varicose veins can progress into a more serious problem. While there is no cure for varicose veins, there are treatments that can reduce their appearance and reduce the risk of complications caused by these unsightly, dysfunctional veins.

Here's everything you need to know about varicose veins, including their causes, symptoms, risk factors, prevention methods, and treatments.

About Veins and Varicose Vein Development

The circulatory system includes veins and arteries. Arteries are vessels that transport oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Your body cells use oxygen and nutrients to perform various functions, producing byproducts and toxins in the process. The toxin-rich, oxygen-depleted blood is then carried back up to your heart by veins.

With a little help from gravity, arteries move blood from your heart to your feet relatively easily. To move blood back up out of your legs and towards your heart, veins must work against gravity. Tiny valves in your veins open and close precisely to prevent blood from flowing backwards, or refluxing, between heartbeats.

Valves can stop working properly after years of wear and tear, and the walls of your veins can become less elastic over time. These side effects can cause blood to reflux and build up in the veins of your lower legs. This is referred to by doctors as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Blood clots press against the inside of the veins, causing them to swell and twist, resulting in varicose veins.

Varicose veins that develop close to the skin can be seen; varicose veins that develop deep within your body tissues cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Varicose veins are considered diseased veins by doctors because they do a poor job of moving blood up and out of your lower legs. This allows blood, byproducts, and toxins to remain in the tissues, preventing them from receiving fresh oxygenated blood. This, in turn, can cause the nearby skin and tissues to deteriorate, resulting in painful leg ulcers known as venous ulcers. These ulcers can take a long time to heal if they don't get enough blood and nutrients.

The accumulating blood can cause stagnation in the veins, allowing blood to clot. Blood clots can travel to the lungs, heart, or brain, causing serious complications.

Varicose Vein Symptoms and Risk Factors

In addition to the appearance of bulging, twisted veins, dark or purple varicose veins can sometimes cause other symptoms. Some people, but not all, feel achy or heavy in their legs, for example. Burning, throbbing, cramping, or swelling of the lower legs, worsened pain after long periods of sitting or standing, itching near a vein, and skin discoloration near a vein may occur.

Varicose veins are more likely to develop if you have certain risk factors. These risk factors are as follows:

Age – the likelihood of developing varicose veins increases with age.

Gender – Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause, women are more likely than men to develop varicose veins.

Pregnancy – the volume of blood in the body increases during pregnancy, putting extra strain on veins.

Family history – if other members of your family have varicose veins, you are more likely to develop them as well.

Obesity – carrying extra weight puts additional strain on veins.

Long periods of standing or sitting – moving around stimulates blood circulation, whereas sitting or standing in one position allows blood to accumulate.

Varicose Vein Prevention and Treatment

While it is impossible to completely prevent varicose veins, you can reduce your risk of developing these unsightly veins by doing the following:

• Exercising
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Avoiding the use of tight hosiery and high heels
• Elevating your legs to allow blood to flow from your lower legs
• Frequently shifting your position

These same precautions can also be used to treat varicose veins once they have developed. However, these measures are not always sufficient to reduce the appearance and effects of varicose veins. Fortunately, vein specialists offer a wide range of varicose vein treatments.

The treatment process begins with a thorough examination of your veins. This examination may include the use of duplex ultrasound, a technology that creates an image of your veins using sound waves. Your doctor will make a treatment recommendation based on the results of the ultrasound and evaluation.

The majority of varicose vein treatments aim to make the diseased vein swell and close permanently. Blood is routed to other veins by the body. The treated vein eventually disintegrates, and the remnants are absorbed by nearby tissue.

Varicose vein treatments available today are minimally invasive and do not necessitate an overnight hospital stay. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), which uses a laser's light energy, is one of these treatments, as are other types of ablation that use heat or chemicals to close the diseased veins.

Contact Dynamic Clinic for more information on varicose veins and their treatment. we have a highly competent and qualified surgeon who can effectively perform varicose veins treatment Dubai.