According to the Chicago Veins Institute (CVI), at least 23% of adult Americans have experienced varicose veins at some point. This conduction typically occurs when high blood pressure damages venous valves, causing blood to pool or flow in the wrong direction. In turn, this causes the veins in the affected region to swell, twist, and appear dark purple or blue. In some cases, the condition may cause pain and discomfort, and therefore, require medical treatment. Keeping this in mind, here’s a look at varicose veins treatment.
Diagnosis
These veins are usually visible to the naked eye, meaning a typical diagnosis entails a visual examination. In such a case, a physician may simply ask you questions concerning what you’re experiencing. However, in some cases, the physician may perform an ultrasound to investigate the severity of the condition. An ultrasound procedure shows any blood clots in your veins, and the amount of swelling present.
Treatment Options
Although anyone can develop this problem, you will be more susceptible to the condition if you are pregnant, overweight, or aged 65 and older. This is because high blood pressure is also common in such states. Per Medical News Today, effective treatment options for this condition include:
• Healthy Lifestyle — So far, the only known cause of varicose veins is impaired blood flow in veins. This means that enhancing blood circulation in your body can help a great deal in preventing or treating this condition. You can achieve this by practicing healthy lifestyle habits including, among others, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and having a massage. Additionally, you should wear compression socks for faster healing.
• Surgery — While this should be the last resort, surgery is more suitable for overgrown veins that won’t go away with other treatments. Even so, it’s a simple procedure that can happen with local anesthesia and you can go home the same day.
• Sclerotherapy — Here, the physician injects a chemical into the the affected veins, scarring, and closing them. In a few weeks, the veins start to fade and disappear.
• Laser treatment — This method involves focusing a high-frequency beam of light on the affected veins, causing them to collapse and fade. It is a non-invasive procedure.
Other effective treatment methods include ligation and stripping, radio-frequency ablation, and ambulatory phlebectomy.
Conclusion
Depending on the size and severity of your varicose veins treatment, your doctor may recommend certain treatments for you. All in all, every treatment can be administered on an outpatient basis and the recovery period is also short, especially for non-invasive procedures.
