All you want to know about varicose veins

Varicose veins are disease of the superficial veins of the legs and are seen as swollen veins visible just beneath the skin. Varicose veins are the visible surface manifestations of an underlying problem with reverse venous flow. This disease affects more than 40 per cent people, mostly young men.

People having similar illness in the family, multiple pregnancies, Obesity and sedentary life style are the risk factors. Large prominent veins in legs, limb swelling causing aches, tiredness and heaviness of legs, discoloration around the ankle are the early warning signs of varicose veins. In later stages, these may also cause itching in the lower leg, formation of ulcer, bleeding from the veins and cosmetic disfigurement.

Varicose veins cannot be completely prevented, but there are many ways to improve vein health. Physical activity such as walking, cycling, jogging and swimming are great ways to improve circulation, by pumping blood up the leg against gravity.

Not all patients require treatment for varicose veins. If the patient has no symptoms or discomfort and is not bothered by the sight of the varicose veins, treatment might not be necessary. However, if there are symptoms, treatment may be required to reduce pain and discomfort and to address complications, such as leg ulcers. Patients with mild varicose veins are generally advised simple measures like exercises, avoidance of prolonged standing and compression garments.

There are no medicines to cure varicose veins; but some tablets that can give temporary relief. Broadly speaking, the treatment of varicose veins involves either removal of the diseased veins by surgery or destruction of damaged veins by sclerotherapy or laser energy. As every other patient has various types of varicose veins, treatment varies from person to person. And so An innovative technique called “Vein mapping”, helps a surgeon to arrive at the best plan for a particular patient.

Now surgery has been largely replaced by laser treatment for varicose veins, where in a small laser fiber is inserted precisely in to the diseased vein. Then laser energy is applied to diseased vein from inside, which later shrinks and is absorbed by the body. With Precise vein mapping techniques and the state of art laser treatment, success rate of treatment of this disabling condition has been very promising. Writer is Senior Consultant, Dept of vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Jubilee Hills.

By Dr C Chandra sekhar