Are you relieved that fall is here so you don’t have to wear shorts any longer? Does the thought of exposing your legs make you uneasy because of unsightly varicose veins?
We are barraged with commercials advertising centers that promise to remove them for you. But what exactly are varicose veins and how do you know who you can trust to eliminate them?
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that are swollen and raised above the skin’s surface. They can appear dark purple or blue and are often twisted and bulging. You’ll probably notice varicose veins on the back of your calf or the inside of your leg. They develop when valves in the vessels that normally allow blood to flow stop working properly. The blood pools in the veins and causes them to enlarge. Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but smaller.
One out of two people over 50, mostly women, will notice varicose veins begin to appear.
How can you prevent or alleviate varicose veins?
- Exercise.
- Lose weight.
- Elevate your legs when you lie down.
- Wear loose clothing.
- Avoid crossing your legs when you sit.
Often you can’t even feel varicose veins. But sometimes they're painful. The symptoms may include:
- Aching, burning, throbbing, muscle cramping or swelling in your legs.
- Itching around your veins.
- Skin ulcers near your ankle. This may mean you have a severe form of vascular disease and you should see a doctor immediately.
Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that may eliminate varicose veins for good.
Who is not a candidate for sclerotherapy?
- You are not eligible if you are pregnant or bedridden or if you have had a blood clot in the past.
- Veins that you might one day need for a surgical bypass procedure(like the saphenous vein, the large vein in the leg that surgeons use for a coronary artery bypass)are usually not eligible for sclerotherapy.
The procedure
In most cases your doctor will inject a sclerosing solution directly into the vein. You might feel a little bit of discomfort for a few minutes. The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Scerotherapy usually takes place in a doctor’s office and should be performed by a board certified dermatolgist or vascular medicine specialist.
After the procedure
- You can drive yourself home and get back to normal. But you should avoid aerobic activity for at least two days.
- Your doctor will instruct you to wear medical grade support hosiery to compress the blood vessels.
- Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medication for at least two days.
You should also avoid the following for 48 hours:
- Hot baths
- Hot compresses
- Whirlpools or saunas
- Direct exposure to sunlight
You should notice the injected veins disappear in about six weeks.It may take longer for larger veins. Basically the vessel turns into scar tissue and fades away. Less than 10 percent of patients do not respond to the injections at all. Your doctor will talk to you about other solutions.
For the other 90 percent, flaunt those legs!
Sources: National Library of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic
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