VARICOSE
VEINS.
Remember when your grandmother had those terrible
sausage-like blue veins on her legs and would wear heavy stockings while complaining
about the pain? As a child, you were convinced you would never have such terrible
looking legs, but time has caught up with you and now your legs are suffering
the same look. Fortunately, you have more options, both medically and surgically,
to deal with varicose veins than your grandmother did.
What are varicose veins? Varicose veins are swollen,
stretched out veins that are engorged in blood. More specifically, arteries are
the blood vessels that
carry blood away from the heart. Veins are blood vessels that return the blood
flow back to the heart.
Most varicose veins are found in the legs and this article will focus on those
varicosities. Varicose veins can be found elsewhere in the body and another type
of varicose vein is a hemorrhoid. This topic will be dealt with at a later date.
How do varicose veins form? In the lower extremity,
blood is returned "uphill" by
the veins. In order to prevent backflow of the blood, veins have valves. These
valves act as a one-way dam. When these valves become weakened, they allow the
blood to flow backward. This backflow of blood leads to damming up of the blood
and the veins become swollen and congested.
Why do they form? There are a variety of reasons that
varicose veins form. Humans may have a hereditary factor that contributes to
their formation. The veins may
be predisposed to having weakened valves. This, in combination with repetitive
trauma, such as prolonged standing, may contribute to their formation. In addition,
other factors such as obesity, aging, hormones and pregnancy may be some major
contributing factors.
How common are varicose veins? They are fairly common
and up to 60 percent of all Americans will develop a form of a varicose vein.
Up to 50 percent of all
women will develop varicosities some time in their life, and 41 percent of all
women will have varicose veins by the age of 50.
How can I prevent varicose veins? You cannot change
your heredity factors, but you can do a few simple things to help prevent the
development of varicose veins.
Exercise is important in helping develop excellent circulation and vein strength.
Obesity is a major risk factor, so weight control and reduction are essential.
Do not sit with the legs crossed, as this blocks return circulation, damaging
the valves of the veins.
A job that requires standing for prolonged periods of time significantly contributes
to the weakening of the valves in the veins. If you must stand for a long time,
shift weight from leg to leg. Also, it is important to wear support stockings,
but be careful that they are not too tight.
What medical and surgical treatments are available? Once
varicose veins have developed and become unsightly and painful, a trip to the
doctor's office may
be necessary. You may need to see a vascular surgeon or a specialist that deals
with varicose veins.
Medical and surgical treatment may include the use of chemicals to dry up the
veins and this is called sclerotherapy. The process involves injecting a chemical
into the vein and it will cause the vein to swell and eventually close off. The
vein becomes scarred and the circulation will be routed around this vein. This
is generally not a problem, as the body develops additional blood supply called
collateral circulation.
Recent treatments have also included the use of electricity and lasers to burn
the vein, causing them to close. Some of these procedures are new and must be
discussed with your doctor.
The old standby treatment has included the surgical removal of the large damaged
veins. This procedure is very effective, but may require hospitalization and
a prolonged period of rehabilitation.
What else can I do? As always, prevention is the best
treatment. Take the time to exercise and be healthy. This will improve your chances
of not being affected.
In the event that you need medical and surgical treatment, be sure to find a
specialist that is well versed in a variety of treatment options and has a proven
record of successfully treated and satisfied patients.
