Varicose veins are twisted, swollen and sometimes painful veins that have filled up with blood. Normally, the veins have a good one-way valve system that keeps the blood from pooling. Between the force of the blood coming along behind and the muscular contractions of the ankles, calves and legs, usually, the veins are able to keep the blood moving along nicely back to the heart.
The typical place for varicose veins is in the legs and the people affected are most often women.
Some of the most common causes of varicose veins are defective vein valves from birth, the added weight and fluids of pregnancy, thrombophlebitis, standing for a long time without lower body muscular movement, added weight or customarily sitting for years with legs crossed and obstructing the blood flow back to the heart.
The most prevalent symptoms are feelings of fullness, heaviness, aching and sometimes pain in the legs. The veins are visibly swollen and ankles may appear swollen as well from extra fluid leaking out of the blood. In more severe cases of varicose veins, there may be skin ulcers near the ankles and a brown discoloration at the ankles due to poor circulation in the area.
The definitive test for varicose veins is made based on the appearance of your legs when standing or when sitting with your feet dangling. Your doctor may decide to investigate further with an ultrasound to visualize the blood flow in the veins and to rule out other problems such as blood clots.
Treatments include avoiding standing for extended periods of time, elevating your legs when resting or sleeping and wearing supportive elastic hosiery. Vein stripping is a procedure to remove varicose veins in order to reduce pain and to help heal skin ulcers. The body finds new ways of routing the blood rather than using the defective veins.
Less radical treatments are laser ablation and/or radioablation (the heat, chipping or erosive process of ablation causes the vein to collapse) and sclerotherapy (an injection of salt which causes the vein to eventually collapse), which is often done to simply improve the appearance of your legs.
Varicose veins tend to worsen over time. They may become very swollen and inflamed, which is referred to as thrombophlebitis. This is usually caused by a blood clot in the leg. So, if your legs start throbbing, aching or become red you should consult your doctor. If you develop a fever with swelling or soreness of your legs you should also consult your health care provider. This is not a time to rely on your own self-treatment, although keeping your legs up as much as you can is always a good idea with varicose veins.
The chance of developing thrombophlebitis is increased with hospitalization and inactivity following surgery or a major illness, or disorders which make your blood more likely to clot (such as some autoimmune diseases), smoking cigarettes, taking estrogen or birth control pills, or simply sitting for an extended period of time such as on a long plane trip.
Deep venous thrombosis affects deeper and larger veins and superficial thrombophlebitis affects veins nearer to the surface. Some of the symptoms of thrombophlebitis are similar to varicose veins. Usually, there is inflammation, swelling, pain of the legs, warmth and tenderness over the vein and sometimes skin redness.
Usually, this condition can be diagnosed by your doctor; however, if it is not readily evident that you have thrombophlebitis, blood coagulation studies, doppler ultrasound or venography may be used. Treatment is support stockings and wraps to reduce pain and the use of pain killers, blood thinners (to prevent new clots) and thrombolytics to dissolve the existing clots.
Usually, thrombophlebitis responds to medical treatment and superficial thrombophlebitis rarely causes problems. However, deep vein thrombosis can include blood clots in the lungs and chronic (long-lasting) pain and swelling in the legs.
If you are taking a long car or plane ride, walk or stretch your legs throughout the journey. Drink plenty of fluids so you have to get up! Do lower body exercises such as ankle flexes, calf raises and leg extensions to use your muscles to help push the blood along back to your heart, rather than letting it pool in your legs. Predictably, keeping yourself healthy will help prevent varicose veins and further complications.
• Jane Riley, M.S., B.A., C.P.T., C.N.A., can be reached at janerileyfitness@gmail.com, 808-212-1451 or www.janerileyfitness.com.
