It is a very common disease in the society. It can be described as the superficial enlargement of the lower extremity veins. Veins are the veins that carry the dirty blood to our heart. They work against gravity and there are valves in the veins that allow the blood to move towards the heart. The contraction and relaxation of our calf muscles and the elastic structure of the veins are other factors that ensure the movement of blood towards the heart.
Why Varicose Veins Occur?
Age: As you age, the elasticity of the veins disappears. In addition, the valves in the veins weaken, so the blood going towards the heart escapes backwards through the valves and causes blood pooling in the legs. This ponding causes the veins to expand further. The color of the blood in the veins is dark red and close to purple, as it is the blood with low oxygen, which we define as “dirty blood”.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy is a factor that facilitates the formation of varicose veins. During pregnancy, the amount of water in our body increases. In addition, the pressure on our leg veins weakens the return of blood to the heart and causes blood to pool in our legs. Hormonal factors during pregnancy are another factor that facilitates the formation of varicose veins.
What are the Risk Factors?
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The incidence increases depending on age.
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It is more common in women. Hormones play an important role here. Complaints of varicose veins increase in premenstrual periods and menopause. Also, the use of estrogen hormone is a risk factor for varicose veins.
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Having a family history of varicose veins.
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Obesity.
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Standing still for long periods of time.
What are the Symptoms?
In the first stage of the disease, enlargements are seen mostly at the level of capillaries, while enlargements occur in the veins of thicker diameter in the later stages. The color of the veins is dark red-purple and they show a curved shape. In the most advanced stage, open wounds called “ulcers” appear, especially on the inner sides of the leg.
What Kind of Complaints Will Occur?
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Leg Feeling of heaviness and pain, especially in the calf area, repeatedly
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Itching
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Cramp
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Edema, more prominent around the ankle
How Does Varicose Disease Cause ?
Varicose veins are life-threatening it is not a disease. However, it is a disease that reduces the quality of life and also makes the person aesthetically uneasy. The most important result is the wounds that we call ulcers, which occur especially at the ankle level and heal very hard. Another result is the formation of blood clots in the enlarged veins and their occlusion of the vein, which is called “thrombophlebitis”.
How to Diagnose ?
To make a diagnosis it's actually very simple. The symptoms and complaints of the disease are sufficient for your doctor to make a diagnosis. However, "doppler ultrasonography" is necessary for planning the treatment.
How Can I Be Treated?
Lifestyle
<Do not stand in a fixed position for a long time.
Try to lose weight.
Exercise regularly
Try not to wear tight-fitting clothes and high heels.
Elastic Socks
These stockings, also called compression stockings, apply a constant pressure to your leg veins from the outside, facilitating the flow of blood towards the heart. Paying attention to wearing these socks during the day will reduce your complaints. It is important that you try on the socks while purchasing them and buy the most suitable one for your own body.
Needle Therapy – Sclerotherapy
In general, in patients with prominent aesthetic complaints, it is important to consider capillary veins. drug therapy is called sclerotherapy. Your doctor injects a drug into the capillaries and ensures that those vessels are blocked.
Laser or Radiofrequency Therapy
In these methods, an energy is given to the enlarged vein with laser or radiofrequency and it is aimed to eliminate the vein with the effect of heat.
Surgical Treatment
The classical surgical method comes to the fore, since it is not possible to provide closure with these methods in patients with very convoluted veins or very wide vascular diameter. The enlarged vein is removed by means of a wire placed in the groin and ankle level.
After the laser or radiofrequency catheter is placed into the vein, it is advanced to the inguinal region and the vein is dried by pulling it back again.
It is a common disease. It can be described as the superficial enlargement of the lower extremity veins. Veins are the veins that carry the dirty blood to our heart. They work against gravity and there are valves in the veins that allow the blood to move towards the heart. The contraction and relaxation of our calf muscles and the elastic structure of the veins are other factors that ensure the movement of blood towards the heart.
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