As you probably know, varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins that commonly appear in the legs and feet. For many patients, there are no symptoms and varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. However, in others, they cause aching pain and discomfort or indicate an underlying problem with the circulation. Treatment can involve exercise, compression stockings, or procedures to remove or close the veins.
There are certain indicators that tell you when you should pay more attention to vein health. In other words, there are certain risk factors of varicose veins. Here are some of the causes of varicose veins, which can tell you when to pay more attention to vein health…
- Gender: Women are more likely than men to develop varicose veins. This is supposed to be due to female hormones.
- Heredity: If your family members have varicose veins, you are more likely to have them too. The mechanism for this is not clearly understood.
- Pregnancy: Being pregnant can cause varicose veins. This is because the growing foetus in the uterus puts pressure on the veins in the lower abdomen. This causes blood pooling in the legs. However, most times, the varicose veins caused due to pregnancy disappear once the pregnancy is over. However, in the cases where the varicose veins remain, they need to be treated.
- Birth Control Pills: Medications such as birth control pills can cause varicose veins. Also, hormone replacement therapy taken during menopause can result in varicose veins.
- Weight: Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for developing varicose veins. Increased body weight can compress the veins. This increases the pressure and strains the vein valves and walls. Losing weight can help reduce the incidence and severity of varicose veins.
- Desk Jobs: Jobs that involve sitting or standing all day can increase the pressure in the veins in your legs, causing varicose veins.
- Getting Older: Our veins age with us, as we get older. With time, the walls and valves weaken, and varicose veins are more likely to develop. The risk for varicose veins increases after age 40.
- History of Blood Clots: If you have deep vein thrombosis or a blood clot in the past, you are at increased risk for developing varicose veins. This is because the clot may have damaged the walls or valves in your veins.
- Damaged Veins: If your veins have been damaged in the past, they may not be as strong as they once were. This could predispose towards developing varicose veins.
- Being Sedentary: The less you move, the harder is it for your veins to pump blood to your heart. You should either exercise or try to find ways to move throughout the day to ease blood flow. If you sit for long periods of time, you can get up at regular intervals to stretch your legs. This can prevent the formation of varicose veins.
If you pay attention to minimizing these risk factors, you can prevent varicose veins from getting worse, or prevent varicose veins altogether. Some measures you can take to reduce or prevent varicose veins are exercise; watching your weight; eating a high-fiber, low-salt diet; avoiding high heels and tight hosiery; elevating your legs, and changing your sitting or standing position regularly.
While in some cases, varicose veins do not need treatment, there are certain instances when you should see your doctor immediately. You should contact your doctor if you notice inflammation, discoloration, or a break in the skin, or swelling in the calf or leg. This may be due to the presence of a blood clot.
Worsening pain in the legs; a bump or minor irritation causing the vein to bleed; bleeding that does not stop after elevating the leg and applying pressure; chest pain or breathing difficulty, and painful veins, are all indications that you should consult your doctor immediately.
While your doctor may recommend compression stockings, there are other varicose veins treatments. One of the most popular and least invasive is Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT). EVLT is indicated if you have varicose veins that are ugly or enlarged; if you have circulatory problems due to chronic venous insufficiency, and if you cannot opt for surgery due to other complications.
Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala, of the Flow Vascular Clinic, is one of the best vascular surgeons and varicose veins specialists in Hyderabad, India. He provides personalized, high-quality healthcare to all his patients. He is extremely adept at performing EVLT and has had many success stories after performing this procedure.
He will treat your varicose veins in a way that is best for you. So, if you have varicose veins that need treatment, do consult with Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala for the solution that will work for you. After all, this is your health we are talking about!
For more information about varicose veins, as well as the treatment for DVT, or other vascular conditions, contact Dr. Abhilash Sandhyala at (+91) 9989649498 or 9959033037, or at contact@drabhilash.com or visit our website