Varicose veins
What are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are also called varicosities and occurs when veins enlarged and overfilled with blood. It generally affects the legs or feet. Varicose veins are typically swollen, raised, and red or bluish-purple in colour and may be painful often.
Some people may take it as cosmetic concern whereas some people may feel pain and discomfort so this can lead to serious problems and need consultation.
Symptoms of Varicose Veins:-
Varicose veins may not cause any pain. Signs you may have with varicose veins include:
- Veins may appear twisted and bulge like cords
- An achy and heavy feeling in your legs
- Burning, muscle cramping and swelling in lower legs
- Itching around one or more of your veins
- Pain after sitting and standing for a long time
- Bleeding from varicose veins
- Painful cord with red discoloration of the skin
Other symptoms may include hardening of the skins, color changes, inflammation, ulcer near the ankle, etc which resemble serious conditions of Varicose veins.
Spider Veins also look as Varicose veins but they are smaller and red in color.
When to See a Doctor
If you face above mentioned symptoms, This is the right time to see the Doctor or Varicose specialist in Gurgaon. Exercising, Elevating, wearing compression stocking helps to relieve the pain and may prevent getting more painful.
Mechanism of Varicose Veins:-
Arteries carry blood from your heart to rest of your body and veins return the blood to your heart. Blood circulation to and fro should be smoother and for this, legs must work against gravity. Muscle contractions help to pump the blood and elastic vein walls help blood return to your heart. Any tiny blockage in this process may disturb the blood flow process and may create varicose veins.
Causes of Varicose Veins
The causes are as under:-
- Age: As you grow older, our veins started lose elasticity causing stretch. Valves may become weaker allowing blood flow backward. (Blood pools in your veins and they enlarge and becomes varicose. It may become blue due to deoxygenated blood)
- Pregnancy:- During pregnancy, blood volume increase but flow from your leg to pelvis reduces. This circulatory process is designed to support growing fetes but it may have the side-effect of enlarged veins in your legs. Varicose may worsen later when uterus exerts greater pressure in veins. Hormonal changes may play a vital role. The varicose vein may improve by own after the 3-12 months of delivery.
Risk Factors of Varicose Veins:-
Some factors are involved in developing varicose veins which are:-
- Age: It grows with the increasing age
- Sex: Women may have the greater risk due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, pre-menstruation, menopause etc.
- Family History/ Genetics:- It may get transferred through the family members.
- Obesity: Being overweight may add pressure on your veins.
- Sitting or standing for long hours as it may affect the blood flow.
Complications in Varicose Veins:-
Complications of varicose veins, although rare, can include:
- Ulcers:- Painful ulcers may be formed near the ankles caused by long terms fluid build-up in tissues. which is again caused by the increased pressure of blood within affected veins.
- Spot: Discoloured Spot form before beginning an ulcer.
- Blood clots: Affected legs may swell and such swelling required medical attention because it may indicate blood clot which is medically known as thrombophlebitis.
- Bleeding:- Veins close to the skin may burst and can cause minor bleeding.
If you face such developing complications, it is always advisable to consult the doctor immediately.
Diagnosis of Varicose Veins:-
- Physical Examination: Initially Doctor will examine through physical checkup by analyzing swelling on legs while standing. He may also ask you to check for pain and aching in your legs.
- Ultrasound/ Doppler Test: It is done to check the functioning of valves or sign of blood clot. A small hand device called transducer is rolled over the skin to examine the body. It transmits the images of veins to a monitor which is analyzed by the doctor.