You know those large and twisted veins mostly on the legs? Yes, those are varicose veins. They are mostly in the leg due to the pressure of walking and standing in our everyday activities.

Some people think Varicose veins are more or a cosmetic thing. But not always. For most people, it’s a lot severe and can cause a lot of pain as well as Discomfort to an individual.

All about Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins

Varicose Veins

Here are some of the Varicose Veins symptoms

Here are signs of varicose veins without any pain implications.

  • Veins have colors like blue and dark purple.
  • Veins tend to appear twisted and bulge out slightly. It gives the impression of cords surrounding your legs.

Now having these symptoms can be all and not everyone experiences the pains as other people do. Here are the signs yours is more severe.

  • You have quite a sore feeling in your legs.
  • There is a burning sensation which is accompanied by throbbing, most times cramps.
  • There’s swelling accompanied with the ache.
  • Complexion changes to not so pleasant just around where the varicose veins lie  
  • Pains may increase after a long period of standing and sitting.

When to see your doctor

Now, if you’ve been practicing certain exercises to help ease the pain and they don’t seem to be working, you should most likely to seek professional help.

Varicose Veins and normal veins

Varicose Veins and normal veins

But if these exercises are working but you’re still very conscious of the general outlook, then you should also go see your doctor. Compression stockings have been known to help ease the pain, but sometimes, it’s not enough. Going to your doctor for regular check up will help you in the long run as a healthcare professional would let you know just how to go about your daily activities without a potential scare.

Some factors increase chances of development varicose veins, either now or sometime in the future. And here are a few of them.

  • Sex of the individual: Due to the hormonal changes women experience during pregnancy, they are more at the receiving end of this Varicose veins. Other hormonal changes in a female’s body such as pre-menstruation and menopause Tend to cause the relaxation of vein walls which could be a triggering factor. The constant intake of birth control can also be a cause for the development of Varicose veins.
  • Aging: after years of youth and liveliness, old age always comes along and that would be a time your body wouldn’t be as strong as it is right now due to the wearing and tearing of the valve which helps in the flow of the blood from the veins. The wearing and tearing at some point would cause a flowback of blood to where it is collected. And this shouldn’t be as it is because it’s supposed to flow to the heart.
  • Excess weight: Having excess fat In your body can lead to excess weight and this puts a strain to your veins. When this happens, the chances of developing varicose veins are more likely.
  • Family: if Varicose veins are prominent in your family members, this increases the risk of you having it too.
  • Pregnancy: as mentioned above, women have more chances of getting varicose veins during pregnancy. Although in some cases, it disappears immediately the child is born. The reason why this is could be because of the volume of blood in a pregnant woman’s body increases significantly due to the fetus in the womb. As beautiful as it is because the fetus needs it to live, it also has an effect on your feet, making you develop varicose veins.
  • Prolonged standing and sitting: when you stay in a position for more than 20 minutes, blood flow is restricted therefore adding pressure On the veins.
  • Prolonged use of shoes and tight articles of clothing: this can also limit blood flow and likewise, add pressure to the veins.

Complications that may arise due to varicose veins

In some cases, other complications may arise for people with Varicose veins. Although not common, a few people can develop them. They are:

  • Blood clotting: blood clotting can occur from the varicose veins in severe conditions. It can cause the legs to swell and cause pain as well as discomfort. If the pain goes on for too long, then you should book an appointment with the doctor.he would examine you and tell you what you have to do Because these symptoms can signify a blood clot.
  • Skin Ulcers: we all know ulcers to be really unpleasant and a reason you have to visit your doctor regularly is to make sure this doesn’t occur. These ulcers appear close to where the Varicose veins lie. It is most common in the ankle region. You can tell or suspect an ulcer Is coming when the skin around that area changes. Once you see discoloration and the texture of that part of your skin changes, go meet your doctor as soon as possible.
  • Bleeding: a person with varicose veins has to more careful in their daily activities as the veins close to the surface of the skin may burst if a harsh external force acts OK it. Once you notice this bleeding, call your doctor and go straight to the hospital.

Preventive measures to varicose veins

Now not only can varicose veins not be cured, but they also do not have a definite Way of preventing them. But since they are due to tension in the veins, finding a way to relax your veins and enable blood circulation in the veins and all over the body come quite a long way. You can also practice exercises one would to sooth these varicose veins before you have them.

A few things you can do to help your body are:

  • Exercising frequently can increase blood circulation all over the body. Thereby freeing tense veins and promoting blood flow.
  • Watching your weight, what you eat and how you eat can come a long way. Considering obesity is a factor for varicose veins due to the excess weight in the body.
  • Eating Food high in fiber and low in Salt can help your body against these veins.
  • Avoiding the prolonged use of high heels and tight shoes as they do not support blood flow and may cause pressure on the veins.
  • Changing your sitting or standing position often helps in promoting circulation around the lower body areas.
  • You can try laying on a bed and elevating your legs to promote blood flow.

Are spider Veins the same as Varicose Veins?

Varicose Veins Stages

Varicose Veins Stages

Here’s the thing, they are very much alike, they also have the same factors which influence than such as prolonged standing and sitting, prolonged use of tight footwear and clothes, obesity, genetics, aging and of course, pregnancy.

They possess quite a few differences in appearance and sensation such as:

  • Physical Appearance: They have a distinguishing appearance due to the fact is 1mm or lesser while Varicose Veins are 3mm or greater. So their size difference is one of their distinguishable factors. Their color also varies as Spider veins are a noticeable shade of red, purple or blue. Their name is gotten from the fact they tend to look like spider webs. Meanwhile, Varicose veins possess a writhed looking red, purple or blue veins that tend to look like a slight swelling On the surface of the skin. They can also extend to the thighs.
  • Sensation: Mostly, spider veins posses absolutely no symptom whatsoever. There might be slight itching and stinging but that happens occasionally to never. Meanwhile, Varicose veins have a more prominent number of symptoms that range from swelling to heaviness. There is also throbbing, cramps, restlessness amongst the many.
  • Second Degree conditions: the real Cosmetic concern amongst both has to be Spider veins. Often times, you might bleed from hitting you the area on a hard surface or rough contact with the skin, but spider veins are more of a cosmetic concern as this is would almost to never happen. generally are more of a cosmetic concern. Varicose veins have a more severe secondary condition. Like we’ve said before, swelling and skin discoloration. But it can cause an ulcer. Just like the former, Varicose veins can bleed too. This is totally dependent on how severe it is and it causes more scare as if this occurs, you should be sent to the hospital immediately. They can cause a blood cot that can potentially harm the lungs, leading to a more severe problem.

Treatment of Varicose veins

Compression stockings for the long run have been used to treat varicose veins. Though they aren’t recommended for just anyone and before you get them, be sure to visit your doctor. He would perform a Doppler investigation test to know more about the circulation of your blood. These stockings have been designed over the years to give your legs enough squeeze to promote the circulation of blood. The tightest part of the socks rests on the ankles. It is looser the further it goes up your leg To encourage enough blood flow towards the heart.

By doing that this, they tend to eradicate pain as well as any burning sensation, uncontrollable sweating and ease any form of discomfort in the legs. It does a pretty good job but the uncertainty of it prevents the worsening of varicose veins still wavers. Neither is it known to prevent the rise of newer varicose veins.

The thing is, you might have a reason to wear these stockings almost, if not all, your life. This is a must if there are blockages in your valve and this could require the constant wearing of the stockings, irrespective of if you had a surgery or not

It is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to only have use of compression stockings when the other treatments are OK, available suitable for you on a long term basis. The organization is willing to offer you free of these stockings for all the period of time you are pregnant which is indeed a thoughtful thing on their part.

These stockings are in varieties for people of different sizes and ages. It also has a variety of the amount of pressure needed. There are two classes by which people with Varicose veins can be classified such as

  • Class 1 which is for the requirement of light compression
  • Class 2 which is for the requirement of medium compression

Not only do you get to choose the amount of pressure you want but you can choose from the wide variety of colors and lengths. There are lengths to suit your preference as some get up to the need while others can get as far up as your thigh. You also get to choose on the style you want such as a whole covering for your entire foot or the ones that don’t cover your toes.

Compression tights exist too, and you get them from pharmacies or book them from the manufacturers themselves.

In the long run, Varicose veins tend to affect the social quality of our lives.

There are certain rules to wearing a compression stocking as you must put them on once you wake up in the morning before going about routines and take them off when you’re about to sleep at night. They can also be quite uncomfortable during the summer as they tend to make you hot. Nevertheless, you must never take them off because they benefit surpass the little heat discomfort you might be feeling. If your doctor recommends a custom made socks make sure to take your measurements in the morning, this is when your feet swell up and would give the proper measurement. Also be sure when taking your measurements, it is done properly

Now compression stockings aren’t all you need for your Varicose veins as some cases could be more severe than others and if the stockings don’t work on you, you have to visit a vascular specialist who would run some tests On you and give you proper treatment such as Endothermal ablation, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser, Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy, and even surgery.