Varicose veins are veins that are swollen, twisted and enlarged. These are usually dark blue or purple in color. Most of the common reasons are old age and overweight. Sometimes even pregnant women develop varicose veins due to excessive pressure on the legs. The blood flow in veins is unidirectional but varicose veins allow backflow of blood leading to swelling. This happens when the valves of the veins start to malfunction. Any superficial vein can be varicose but since most of our body weight lies on our legs, the veins of our legs are more susceptible to be varicose.
For many people, there are no symptoms. If one does not develop severe pain, then varicose veins are just a cosmetic concern.
Symptoms
- Burning or throbbing sensation in the legs.
- Legs feel heavy and achy.
- Swelling of the feet and ankles.
- Itchy skin appears in the area of the varicose vein.
Treatment
There is no cure for this. However, medication can help one reduce pain. Most of the times, it does not require treatment. However, in extreme situations, it might result in severe pain, varicose ulcers on the skin and rupturing of veins. There are home remedies that help you treat them.
- Dietary changes: Salt and sodium increase blood pressure and retain water. Food rich in potassium will help you minimize water retention. Fibrous food helps improve bowel movements and prevents constipation. Obese people should design their diet in a way to shed a few kilos to prevent the veins from worsening.
- Exercise: Exercises and activities that are low impact help move the calf muscles without much strain. Swimming, yoga, and cycling can be done to maintain the blood flow to legs. These activities will help you maintain your blood pressure which is again one of the contributing factors of varicose veins.
- Massage: Gentle massage in the affected areas can help improve the condition. One can consider using massage oil or moisturizer.
If the pain does not reduce it is always better to seek advice from a physician. If the pain gets unbearable, these veins can be operated. Some of the common medical ways of treating them are:
- Surgery: These veins can be removed by operating under general anesthesia. Laser technique is used to close off smaller veins and spider veins.
- Sclerotherapy: A chemical is injected into the affected small and medium-sized veins which scars and closes them. The scar must fade in some time.
- Ligation and Stripping: In this process, two incisions are made, one near the groin at the top of the target vein and other down the leg, near the ankle or knee. The top of the vein is sealed and with a thin, flexible wire is threaded through the bottom of the vein and it is pulled out.
A physiotherapist can help you with relevant exercises to reduce discomfort and recover quickly. Care2cure offers expertise in physical therapy and rehabilitation. Customer satisfaction and well-being is our ultimate aim. Be it varicose vein or any other issue, Care2cure is the right choice!
