Varicose veins affect around one in 10 of the UK population and while they are usually just considered unsightly, they can sometimes be an indication of underlying health problems. Most can be dealt with through cosmetic procedures, vitamin and diet supplements and coverings but in rare cases varicose veins need to be dealt with medically.
Any vein can become varicose, but they are most commonly found in the legs and feet. Varicose veins are simply enlarged and swollen veins that occur when the valves inside them stop working correctly. They appear twisted and bumpy due to the blood flow being prevented and trapped within the vein, making it swell.
For the majority of patients, varicose veins require no treatment. For a small number, though, the veins can cause aching and swollen legs and this is when medical assistance may be required. Varicose veins treatment ranges from compression socks to the affected veins being surgically removed; either treatments are designed to ease the pressure or eliminate the problem altogether.
Varicose veins symptoms include the physical symptoms of lumps and blue or black colouring under the skins, aching legs and feet, itchy legs where the veins are inflamed, and swelling. Large varicose veins do not necessarily cause more distress than smaller ones but in the worst cases swollen veins can lead to ulcers, varicose eczema and even thrombophlebitis, which is characterised by painful red and inflamed veins.
There are several risk factors that can lead to veins becoming swollen. While they are more common in women than in men and more probable in people over the age of 20, there are also environmental influences that can lead to varicose veins. They can sometimes run in the family but they are also more likely to occur during pregnancy due to the increased weight carried and the pressure on the body’s circulatory system. This is the same theory surrounding the likelihood of veins becoming swollen in obese people.
There are many ways to ease the burden of varicose veins before they cause too many issues. One of the latest methods to be highlighted is the use of Omega 3. We all know the skin and mental benefits of Omega 3, but the fatty acids contained in oily fish can also aid blood circulation and prevent veins becoming varicose.
Varicose veins are becoming easier to deal with as medical technology develops. Royal Gwent Hospital in Wales, for example, has become one of the frontrunners to use a new probe and computer software to locate varicose veins more easily. These developments, combined with the increased clarity of the treatment needle, results in less pain for the patients and a speedier recovery.
Unsightly veins can be problematic for many people but for the veins that cause health issues, treatment is simple and straightforward. Developing technology and further insight to the causes and prevention of varicose veins means that blood circulation can be improved on all levels and therefore regardless of age and weight, varicose veins can be identified and treated promptly.
