Varicose Veins ? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged and twisted. Carl Arnold Ruge is credited with having first defined varicose veins as "any dilated, elongated and tortuous vein irrespective of size"

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged and twisted. Carl Arnold Ruge is credited with having first defined varicose veins as "any dilated, elongated and tortuous vein irrespective of size". The term commonly refers to the veins on the leg, although varicose veins occur elsewhere. Veins have leaflet valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards (retrograde). Leg muscles pump the veins to return blood to the heart. When veins become enlarged, the leaflets of the valves no longer meet properly, and the valves don''t work. One cause of valve failure is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can cause permanent damage to the valves.

What are the symptoms?

If you have varicose veins, your legs may feel heavy, tired, restless, or achy. Standing or sitting for too long may worsen your symptoms. You may also experience night cramps.

You may notice small clusters of veins in a winding pattern on your leg, or soft, slightly tender knots of veins. Sometimes, the skin on your legs may change color, become irritated, or even form sores.

Symptoms caused by venous insufficiency and varicose veins include aching leg pain, easy leg fatigue, and leg heaviness, all of which worsen as the day progresses. Many people find they need to sit down in the afternoon and elevate their legs to relieve these symptoms. In more severe cases, venous insufficiency and reflux can cause skin discoloration and ulceration which may be very difficult to treat. One percent of adults over age 60 have chronic wounds known as ulcers.

Varicose Vein Causes

Many theories exist for why varicosities occur in veins, but the consensus is that defective/damaged valves within the veins are to blame.

Valves prevent backward flow of blood within the vein. They keep blood in the vein moving toward the heart. Why the valves stop working is up for debate.

Pregnancy is a common cause of varicose veins. During pregnancy, hormones relax the veins and more blood travels through the veins. Extra weight and a heavy uterus place pressure on leg veins, too.

Varicose Veins Diagnosis

If your varicose veins do not cause you any discomfort, you may not need to visit your GP. Varicose veins are rarely a serious condition and do not usually require any treatment.

However, if you find that your varicose veins are causing you pain or discomfort, or the skin over your veins is sore and irritated, you should visit your GP for advice.

Treatments and drugs

Doctors providing surgical treatment include general and vascular surgeons. Sclerotherapy is often performed by dermatologists. Some general, vascular, and plastic surgeons also perform sclerotherapy treatments. You may want to consult more than one doctor before deciding on a method of treatment. Be sure to ask doctors about their experience in performing the procedure you want.

Sclerotherapy. In this procedure, your doctor injects small- and medium-sized varicose veins with a solution that scars and closes those veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. Although the same vein may need to be injected more than once, sclerotherapy is effective if done correctly. Sclerotherapy doesn''t require anesthesia and can be done in your doctor''s office.

Read About Automobile Magazine Also read about Recipes Magazine and Travel to London Magazine