What Are Varicose Veins?
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are extremely common. In fact, recent estimates suggest that about 20 percent of the adult population either has them or will develop varicose veins at some point in their lives.
Varicose veins are symptoms of a vein disorder known as venous insufficiency. If you have this condition, you’ll notice bluish, enlarged, twisted veins forming on the legs; however, they can occur in other areas of the body, including arms, rectum or pelvic area.
When your veins are healthy and functioning properly, they pump blood back to the heart with the help of one way valves. The valves open and close, allowing blood to flow in one direction only. Venous insufficiency occurs when the veins become damaged, causing the blood to reflux (flow in the wrong direction) and start pooling in the vein.
Varicose Veins Can Be Recognised by the Following Symptoms:
Painful legs at the end of the day, exacerbated by prolonged inactivity
Raised, gnarled, enlarged veins that are purplish-blue in colour
Brownish discolouration of the skin surrounding faulty veins
Burning or itching sensations in the lower extremities
Heaviness and swelling in the legs
What Causes Varicose Veins?
Genetics – there is good evidence that varicose veins have a genetic predisposition, particularly if you’re a female. If your parents or siblings have them, your chance of developing varicose veins goes up significantly.
Obesity – lifestyle factors such as being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle can increase the odds of varicose veins.
Female hormones – a spike in estrogen levels during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills can weaken the vein walls, making them more susceptible to vein disease.
Ageing – wear and tear on the circulatory system as you get older increases your risk of developing the condition.
Prolonged inactivity – standing/sitting for extended periods of time can promote venous insufficiency.
Injury – trauma to the circulatory system can impair vein function and lead to the formation of varicose veins.
How to Prevent Varicose Veins
As with any health condition, a prophylactic approach is the best. The following lifestyle factors can promote strong, healthy veins, preventing varicosities from developing or getting worse:
Optimum nutrition – consuming foods rich in flavonoids (phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables) and Vitamin-C (a powerful antioxidant) can keep your circulatory system and membranes strong and flexible. These foods also reduce inflammation and improve blood pressure.
Regular exercise – research shows that even moderate daily exercise such as walking your dog, swimming, hiking or yoga have a relaxing effect on your veins. It’s especially important if your profession requires you to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time. Make sure to stretch or walk around to throughout the day to boost circulation.
Healthy weight – there’s a well-established connection between obesity and varicose veins. Maintaining a healthy weight keeps the pressure off your veins and promotes a well-functioning venous network.
Avoid restrictive clothing – high heels may look good but they’re not so great for your circulatory system. The same principle applies to tight-fitting socks or other items of clothing. These can restrict the blood supply to your legs, potentially aggravating an underlying venous condition.
Sclerotherapy
If you’re dealing with unsightly varicose veins, the good news is you can have them treated without surgery.
Sclerotherapy Perth treatment is a popular minimally-invasive procedure that permanently closes off varicose veins by injecting them with a sclerosing solution.
The sclerosing medication, once administered into the vein using ultrasound-guided imagery, irritates the lining of the vein walls, causing them to collapse and stop the blood from flowing. The body then reroutes blood flow through other healthy vessels and the treated vein fades after a few weeks.
We invite you to book a consultation at Restoration Clinic in Mt. Hawthorn or call us on (08) 9443 2222 to determine if sclerotherapy for varicose veins is right for you.
