Varicose Veins: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment

According to the Society for Vascular Surgery there are at least 40 million people in the United States who suffer from varicose veins. Varicose veins are large and blue and can be seen right beneath the surface of the skin. They occur when the veins in the legs become less productive and do not allow blood to flow up to the heart to receive oxygen. This also prevents blood from going down to the ankles because the valves in the veins of the legs have become weak. As the veins stretch, become enlarged, and lose their elasticity it causes the buildup of blood and fluid in the vessels. All of this fluid buildup makes the legs feel tired and heavy.

Varicose veins have no age or gender preference, can be a hereditary problem, and can be caused by normal everyday activities. They tend to be more common in about 70% of women in their late 50's and about 40% of men that are in the late 60's. It's possible to ward them off for a few years, but there are no known ways to prevent them when risk factors of age, family history, and gender start to combine.

There are easy at-home treatments and remedies that can often give pain relief and manage the symptoms of varicose veins. Some of the most common at-home remedies and lifestyle changes are to not stand on your feet for long periods, elevate your legs while you are at home and at work if possible, wear loose fitting clothing, keep your weight at a normal size, and try wearing knee high support stockings.

If at-home treatments do not help ease the symptoms or the pain becomes too hard to endure then it might be time to consult a medical professional. There are a few surgical methods available you might want to consider if the pain does not subside or you are uncomfortable doing everyday chores. Some of the surgical procedures for varicose veins are:

Vein Stripping - this ties off and removes longer veins.

Catheter - a thin tube is inserted into the vein and heat is applied which squeezes the walls of the vessels and closes the vein off.

Vein Excision - smaller veins are removed by hand through tiny punctures in the skin.

Sclerotherapy - a chemical is injected into smaller veins which causes them to close from the inside and become invisible.

While varicose veins can be treated and controlled using at-home remedies, some situations may call for a surgical procedure. Always consult with your doctor and let him or her decide which protocol is best for your specific situation.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical practitioner and this information is not intended to be used as medical advice.

Sources:

webmd.com

wikipedia