Causes of varicose veins of legs, including pregnancy and genetic factors
The varicose veins is one of the most common diseases that affect many people, especially pregnant women and the elderly, and sometimes is painful, in addition to a change in the leg look, if you are interested in identifying the causes of varicose veins and what are their symptoms, and how to treat them, you should read the following lines.
What are varicose veins?
It occurs due to a defect in the valves of the veins, so they work in one direction only towards the heart and prevent the blood from flowing backward, which causes blood accumulation, so the veins appear in enlarged and twisted shape with changing their color to turn dark blue.
What are the symptoms of varicose veins?
- Feeling of heaviness in the feet.
- The vein is swollen and changes its color to blue.
- Muscle spasm.
- Feeling itchy in the affected area.
- Skin ulcers.
- Swelling in the feet.
- Pain after standing or sitting for a long time.
How are varicose veins diagnosed?
In most cases of varicose veins, the vascular doctor depends on the clinical examination, and in other cases, the vascular doctor will ask the patient to do a color ultrasound to help him diagnose the case better and choose the appropriate method of treatment.
Types of varicose veins:
- Superficial varicose veins: The veins appear in red and blue colors, and they can be seen clearly.
- Advanced varicose veins: It occurs in some cases, the pain is intolerable, as well as the increased rate of deterioration in the vein leads to immobility.
What are the causes of varicose veins?
There are many causes of varicose veins, including the following:
- Genetic factors.
- Overweight.
- Aging.
- Valve problems due to the presence of clots in the deep veins.
- birth defects
- Pregnancy.
- Standing for long periods.
Varicose veins treatment methods:
After the clinical examination the vascular doctor will choose the appropriate type of treatment according to the severity degree of varicose veins, as there is more than one method, including the following:
- Surgery: It is the oldest type of varicose vein treatment and has become largely extinct, and laser therapy has become the modern alternative method that is used by most vascular doctors.
- Laser: The vascular doctor resorts to using a catheter to treat varicose veins with a laser in cases that suffer from regurgitation in the vein.
- Injection: It is done through a liquid drug injected into the vein to loosen the existing narrowing that causes varicose veins, in the absence of any reflux into the veins.
- Laser and injection together: It is done in some advanced cases, the vascular doctor may have to use them together to reach the best results by applying the ClaCs technique.
Here are simple tips that you should follow if you have varicose veins:
- Doing physical activity regularly.
- Avoid smoking.
- Avoid standing for long periods.
- Getting rid of obesity and maintaining your ideal weight.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Raise the legs.
These procedures are usually sufficient to control and avoid the problem of varicose veins, but you should contact your vascular doctor immediately if the veins are swollen, warm or red, if a rash appears on the leg or ankle, as you may need to use medications or Injections to avoid complications, and in this case, it is up to the vascular doctor in his decision to choose the appropriate treatment.
If you suffer from varicose veins, book an appointment for a medical examination and consultation with Dr.Waleed El-Daly, Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at Cairo University, specializing in the treatment of diabetic foot, foot gangrene, and treatment of varicose veins by injection and laser.
