Pregnancy

If you are pregnant, speak to your obstetrician about wearing support hose also called compression therapy. Stockings that are designed to push the dilated vein walls into place and also to help them to be able to pump the blood more efficiently are called compression stockings. It is important to have a correct fit with compression stockings so a prescription is required. Your doctor will be able to do this for you.

Prolonged standing or sitting

It is important for leg and vein strength to be active so prolonged sitting and standing does not exercise your legs. You need to be sure that you actively make time to exercise your legs. Take breaks as often as possible and go for a walk. If this is not possible there are ways to alleviate the pressure of standing or sitting. If standing for a long period of time, try to shift your weight from one leg to the other leg. Do exercises like flexing the ankles by rotating them in a circle first clockwise and then counterclockwise. If you sit for long periods of time, do the same circle exercises and also pump your legs by bending them at the knees.

Overweight

Weighing more than is appropriate for your build, height and age can put too much pressure on your legs and leg veins. It is important to know what your proper weight is and then to do a combination of diet and exercise to achieve that weight and then to maintain it.

Diet

Constipation can also put pressure on your lower body, so avoiding being constipated can aid your veins. The way to stay regular is to eat a diet that is high in fiber. You also want to consume at least 8-8oz glasses of water every day. Your body needs water to stay regular.

Reducing your salt intake can help avoid water gain which adds to the occurrence of swelling of the ankles. When your ankles swell it can add pressure to your veins in your feet and ankles.

Exercise

Healthy legs need to be strengthened by exercise. Good leg exercises include walking, running and swimming.

There are many exercises you can do while sitting or standing.

Sitting:

Place your feet together on the floor. Raise your heels and point your toes. Then slowly lower your heels. Repeat at least 20 times.

Extend each leg one at a time and rotate your foot in a circular motion first one way, then the other. Repeat 10 times each foot.

Slowly extend and bend your knee, like you are pumping. Do first one leg and then the other.

Standing:

Stand between a table and a chair with one hand on each. Slowly lift up so you on standing on tiptoe, then lower yourself down so you are standing flat again. Repeat at least 20 times.

Stand opposite a wall with both of your palms on the wall at shoulder length. Raise up on tiptoes and then down again. Repeat at least 20 times.

Stand with your feet apart. Start with your arms to your side and then raise them above your head. While you are raising your arms rise up on tiptoes. and then return your arms to your sides and your toes to the ground. Repeat at least 20 times.

Along with your happiness and excitement and little hormonal changes, you’ve probably started to think of all you don’t know about pregnancy and maybe you’re feeling a bit timid…you’ve heard moms talking about their own pregnancies, and sometimes it can sound a little scary! You’ve probably heard all the Family stories about pregnancies and births and sometimes that can sound a little…well, scary as well. You’ve heard your mom and aunts and sisters and cousins talk about all kinds of things that sound kind of…well, you’d like to know something about Varicose Veins.

That’s a biggie in the Family Women’s collection of stories, you remember them saying that everyone in the Family Gets Them, They’re Inherited, well, yes, and that’s somewhat true. Varicose veins are a genetic predisposition, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prevent or reduce their severity if you start now to take care of yourself. And the cool thing about the ways you can fight varicose veins are exactly the same things that will help your general health and have an easier pregnancy, help get you through labor and childbirth, and will really help when it’s time to loose the baby fat! That can be your big story when the tales are told for someone else.

OK, you probably know what a varicose vein looks like, and they’re not pretty. But know that they don’t spontaneously pop out on a pregnant woman’s leg. They are the end result of a lot of different factors.

Over time, the pressure of blood being pumped up the leg can cause the veins to lose elasticity and widen. The valves inside can pull away from the vein wall and lose their ability to pump. Blood starts to pool in the vein and it can widen more and become twisted. That is basically the score as to how a varicose vein shows up. But what can you do about it not happening to you?

1. Exercise! Walking is about the best therapy there is, because the calf muscle has a lot to do with helping the vein pump. Get yourself going with whatever physical activity you like to do and the OB Doc has sanctioned. One sport that isn’t OK is weightlifting because it puts too much stress on your veins.

2. Eat! Low fat, high fiber foods are on the menu now! Gaining a lot of weight with the baby will put strain on your veins. Avoid constipation with lots of fruits, veggies, and fiber.

3. Drink! Lots and lots of water, to keep you hydrated.

4. Don’t! Smoke, or drink alcohol. Lay off the salt intake.

5. Fashion No-Nos! Ditch the high heels; they’re not good for your circulation. Ditto on those tight knee highs that leave an indentation on your leg for hours. Uncomfortable clothes that bind you anywhere have to go as well; also shaper garments that are tight on your legs.

6. Do! Walk tall, skip, do a little dance, laugh, love, hope and dream!

Men and women can get varicose veins and they can occur at any age. A common time to notice them is during the childbearing years for women and they are common in both sexes aged 50 and above. Family history also plays a part in your tendency to develop varicose veins.

It is not entirely known what causes people to develop varicose veins but it is known that when a backup of blood occurs in the vein that the vein can bulge. this backflow causes poor circulation. A weakness in the vein wall may also contribute to the condition. A disease such as phlebitis may also cause varicose veins to show on the skin’s surface. Phlebitis is an inflammation of veins. Congenital abnormalities may also contribute to the presence of varicose veins.

Usually conditions involving veins cannot be prevented they can however be treated to bring some measure of relief by use of wearing support hosiery, and by being sure to maintain proper weight for your age and height. Exercise may also be beneficial.

Quite often the presence of varicose veins is only of cosmetic concern especially for women whom may be sensitive about appearances. When the varicose veins also concern the presence of ulcers than treatment is necessary. Your healthcare provider can help you decide whether or not treatment is necessary.

If treatment is deemed necessary or desired there are several options available. One option is to remove the affected vein using surgery or sclerotherapy. Not as common but a treatment that is still used is either laser or electro-cautery treatments. The surgery to treat varicose veins is commonly referred to as stripping.

Stripping veins is nothing new; it has been around since the 1950’s. Sclerotherapy has been used in various different variations since the 1920’s.

Procedures for varicose vein treatment may vary in their degree of pain depending on location of the vein, how deep it is and the person’s tolerance level for pain. The procedures are performed using anesthesia so there is no pain during the procedure. The incision sites may be painful after the anesthesia wears off.

When undergoing sclerotherapy the degree to which pain is felt will be determined by how large a needle is used during the procedure. When a solution called: hypertonic saline is used there is pain as well as a burning or cramping upon injection of the solution into the vein. To minimize the discomfort, some doctors mix a mild local anesthesia into the hypertonic saline solution.

General and vascular surgeons perform most treatments for varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is performed by dermatologists with some general, vascular or plastic surgeons also performing sclerotherapy treatments. As is the case with any surgery, it is wise to consult with another surgeon or dermatologist for a 2nd opinion to be sure you are choosing the correct treatment for you.

However, with the varicose vein operation you are able to get rid of those unsightly varicose veins so that you can look great and feel better once again. The varicose vein operation is certainly not an incredibly serious one however as with any type of surgery you are definitely going to want to make sure that you have thought about it very seriously and that you know everything about it before you go through with it.

What Happens With the Varicose Vein Operation?

With the varicose vein operation, basically the exact method that will be used to remove the varicose veins will vary, depending on the doctor, the severity of your case and other things in regards to your particular situation, and so you are going to have to realize this. As well, they will generally be removed under general anesthesia and nothing more, and so you will want to realize this as well.

The procedure does not take long, although you might have to end up staying in the hospital overnight, particularly if you are having operations done on both of your legs. You really need to speak to your surgeon several times before going through with the operation so that you can learn about everything that you need to in regards to this surgery and so that you can ask him any questions that you may have.

Your surgeon will be able to explain all of the possible risks and complications in regards to this surgery, so that you are fully aware of them, because after all, as with any other type of procedure or operation, there are possibilities of things going wrong and of risks or complications coming about, and so you are going to have to be aware of all of these.

You can make a list to bring into your surgeon so that you will not forget what you want to ask because this tends to happen a lot, and so if this is you then you should definitely remember to make yourself a list first.

Confidence

The biggest reason that you might want to try varicose veins sclerotheraphy is that varicose veins are going to give you a lack of confidence. It has been proven that confidence is one of the most important aspects of your life. It can help you get a job, succeed in personal relationships, and make you feel good about yourself. If you suffer from varicose veins, this can affect your confidence over your personal appearance, which could affect many different parts of your life. For this reason, you might want to consider varicose veins sclerotheraphy because it will give you a way to eliminate the unsightly blue and purple lines on various parts of your body, and boost your self confidence level. You should know that varicose veins sclerotheraphy is a fairly simple and low risk procedure can be highly effective in dealing with your varicose vein problem.

If your doctor suggests varicose veins sclerotheraphy, talk to him about all of the details of the procedure to make sure you completely understand how it is done. You should rest assured in knowing that there is very little risk to varicose veins sclerotheraphy, and that there is a great chance of success. It is something that can rid you of those annoying varicose veins and give a big boost to your self confidence as a result. If you are interested in learning more information about this procedure, talk to your doctor about varicose veins sclerotheraphy and whether or not it can be a good choice for you.

Keep in mind that many insurance companies will actually cover the cost of this procedure because it is considered preventative therapy for this condition. This means that treating your varicose veins can actually help you reduce the risk of other medical issues later in life. Check with your insurance company to see if this is indeed the case for you as well. Then talk to your doctor to find out if this treatment option is a good idea for you.

Spider veins are aptly named, as the tiny, damaged capillaries do resemble spiders. They are caused by the backflow of blood to the tiny veins and capillaries. If these appear in conjunction with varicose veins, their treatment, by itself, is considered inappropriate, as it is not addressing the underlying problem. They can be a red or purplish color, and in many cases can be so small that they are rarely noticed.

Spider veins can be covered with makeup, if they appear on the face. There are laser treatments for facial spider veins, but insurance will rarely cover the procedure, as it is considered cosmetic and not medically necessary.

Spider veins, particularly on the face, can show up at first as little squiggles on the cheek, barely noticeable. Makeup or a tan can hide them from view, until they are noticed. They are so small as to not cause concern, but later they can cover the cheek area. For a while it may appear quite like a blusher has been applied to the cheek when it hasn’t. Over the period of twenty years or so, the spider veins can spread all over the face, and sometimes on body parts as breasts and legs. They can be very visible on the face, particularly in warm weather, during sports, in periods of heightened emotion, or hot flashes during menopause. Sometimes the face can feel overly warm, but usually there is nothing to alert a person to their exacerbation until someone asks,” Are you alright?”This usually means that the face is an all-over shade of hot pink, red, or magenta.

Varicose veins and spider veins are caused by the same mechanism. These veins are affected by heredity, hormones, pregnancy, an occupation that requires standing in one place for long periods of time, weight, inactivity, and something as innocuous as wearing high heels. Therefore, women are much more likely to develop varicose veins than men, however, men do develop varicose veins and spider veins, although women are four times more likely to develop spider veins than men.

Sometimes spider veins can be painful, but this occurs very rarely. The subjective pain of a sometimes unsightly problem will have to be worked out by the sufferer.

It is said that varicose veins are the price humans have to pay for being erect. While it may be painful we continue to walk on two legs and lead our lives.

Other Types of Prevention of Varicose Veins

There are so many different options you have in regards to the matter of prevention of varicose veins, and if you want the best type of prevention of all then you are going to want to make sure that you take every type of prevention of varicose veins seriously into consideration so that you can be as informed and have the best and most resulting prevention for this as you possibly can.

The best place for you to start here would be for you to go in to your doctors, so that they can set out a plan for you which will help you incredibly in regards to preventing yourself from getting varicose veins. Basically the plans will differ, depending on your own personal circumstances as well as on how bad your situation with varicose veins is already.

You should know that if you are taking steps to prevent yourself from getting varicose veins that you are really doing something good for yourself and you should be proud of yourself because the more steps that you take beforehand, the better off you are going to be. Just remember to be careful and not start taking tons of medications just because you want to prevent varicose veins.

After all, you can make yourself actually worse over all if you just start taking a whole bunch of pills and so you definitely do not want to end up going this. You want to make sure that you take your time here and that you speak to a couple of different doctors, so that you can get the best possible results and get all of the information and advice that you can.

Just remember to be patient and keep reminding yourself of how much less likely you are to end up getting varicose veins later on in your life if you start taking preventive measures now.

A common misconception is that varicose veins will heal with the passage of time, but the truth is that there is no possibility of them healing on their own. In fact, if they are left untreated, they can lead to worse conditions such as leg ulcers. Years ago, varicose vein stripping was the method employed to treat varicose veins, but it was very painful and also required many days for recovery.

Modern Day Technology has made it almost Painless

Modern day technology has greatly simplified the process of varicose vein stripping, and has made it less painful as well as quicker to recover from. The affected area can be diagnosed through ultrasound tests or physical examination, and treatment may be performed through minimally invasive procedures that are virtually painless. With varicose vein stripping, the upper end of the problematic vein is tied up and removed from the leg while the patient is under general anesthesia.

Basically, varicose vein stripping entails the removal of large veins, as well as closing off of smaller vein tributaries. When the smaller vein is removed, a technique known as small incision avulsion is employed. Varicose vein stripping is most often used to better the appearance of the legs as well as to provide relief from the sometimes painful symptoms of varicose veins. The objective of varicose vein stripping is to relieve pain as well as to improve circulation of the blood through the venous system. Varicose vein stripping is indicated after a physician has performed a complete ultrasound evaluation of the veins and has determined that the malfunctioning veins require stripping.

Varicose vein stripping is an out-patient procedure, though it may also be performed in an operating room with the patient receiving general or spinal anesthesia. The risks involved with varicose vein stripping are not great, and the procedure is performed on patients that are in good health. Blood clots can be one of the concerns after surgery, which is typical with all forms of vein surgery. Other potential complications include allergic reactions, problems with breathing, bleeding and infection.

In order to control bleeding and swelling, doctors will use elastic bandages that will also help promote healing. In addition, compression stockings are also recommended as a part of the recovery process. Patients may receive a mild analgesic, and are told to take ten to twelve short walks daily. Within two weeks of the procedure, most patients should be able to return to their normal daily activities.

When we look at varicose veins, we’re observing twisted and swollen veins that appear to be directly under the surface of our skin. They look rather blue-ish and they come in different shapes and sizes with different symptoms. Some of them may throb, they might bulge above the surface and they can be quite uncomfortable. The skin around them may itch, and you may even notice your feet swelling up. You’ll mostly see varicose veins on the back of your leg, on your calf usually, although they also show up frequently in the area of the groin. Varicose veins of the anal area is what we call hemorrhoids; the fact is, they can actually show up just about anywhere on your body. That’s because you have veins almost everywhere inside of you.

There are many experts who will tell you that constipation can be a cause of varicose veins. They point out that when a person strains to have a bowel movement it can affect their veins, even to the point of shutting off veins and forcing backflow blood to reroute itself. They argue that by introducing more fiber into a person’s diet constipation can be lessened. Try more vegetables and fresh fruit in your diet, and stick to whole grains as much as is practical. Cut back on fats where you can. Since high-fiber diets work with your body to promote regularity in as natural and gentle a way as possible, you should give due consideration to this option.

Sadly, there are times when dietary changes are not enough to remedy the situation. Sometimes surgery is called-for, and it is not to be considered lightly. Such operations include the removal of the damaged veins and so, consequently, possible side-effects include thrombophlebitis (pain and swelling of veins), varicose ulcers (above the ankle), and varicose eczema (skin dryness and itching).

Doctors usually advise surgery when the large veins are affected. They also feel surgery may be helpful in reducing severe pain.

The procedure is called vein stripping. A patient can either be asleep under general anesthesia, or an epidural block can be administered in which the patient is awake but the lower half of his body is numb. Many women who have had babies will be familiar with the epidural block.

The surgery is done with two incisions, one near the groin, and one near the ankle. The damaged vein is completely pulled out and other veins in the leg will take over the job of circulating blood.

It usually takes six to eight weeks to recover, and the patient will have his leg bandaged for several weeks after the surgery. Recovery time is one more factor that should be considered as you and your Doctor decide what procedure is the best for you.

It is common to encounter varicose veins of the vagina or anus during pregnancy due to the pressure the expanding abdomen puts on the lower body. Overweight people are prone to varicose veins. People who stand or sit for long periods of time are also at risk for varicose veins.

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are swollen veins that are raised above the surface and visible. They look like dark blue or red or purple cords that are twisted and bulging. They can appear anywhere on the body but are most common to appear anywhere from the groin to the ankles. They can be around the anus in the form of hemorrhoids that have become engorged.

Who gets varicose veins?

Women tend to have varicose vein issues more than men do. Up to 41% of all women will suffer some kind of leg vein abnormality by the time they reach age 50. More than half of all men and women will experience varicose veins. This is why it is so important to understand what you can about varicose veins. The more you know the more you can do to help reduce your risk for varicose veins.

The 3 biggest factors concerning varicose vein development are: heredity (born with the gene for having weak veins), hormones (during pregnancy or puberty or during menopause), being overweight.

Why on the legs?

The reason varicose veins appear most often on the legs than any other body part is because the legs bear the weight of the body, have to fight gravity to bring the blood up to the heart and have the task of bringing blood all the way up from the lowest parts of the body up to the heart.

Prevention

There are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting varicose veins. You can maintain a healthy weight. You can exercise your legs to strengthen them. You can eat properly so you can maintain an ideal weight for your body frame. You can wear loose clothing and also wear support hose.

Preventing Varicose Veins:

Exercising your legs by walking or running helps to strengthen the legs, veins and improves circulation.

Keep your weight in the ideal range for your height, sex and age.

Avoid crossing your legs while sitting and elevate them while resting.

Do not wear tight clothing, especially around your waist, groin or leg areas.

Wear elastic support stockings fi possible.

Include fiber foods in your diets and reduce your salt intake as too much sodium can cause you to retain water.