A range of treatments may help to reduce the appearance and pain of varicose veins. Read on to learn how to get rid of varicose veins here.
Do you have varicose veins? Do you want to know how to get rid of varicose veins for good?
Over 40 million Americans suffer from varicose veins. The severity varies from person to person. Some experience minor discomfort.
Others feel nagging pain.
Some also suffer from spider veins. These are smaller, reddish, or bluish veins that crawl along the legs. Most people find them unsightly, to the extent that they affect people’s self-esteem.
In this war against varicose veins, medical experts offer different kinds of treatments. Since not all treatments are the same, you need to know which ones will work best for your condition.
Continue reading below as we discuss some of the best treatments against varicose veins.
What Exactly are Varicose Veins?
We all know that varicose veins are those swollen veins that you often find on the legs and feet. They are usually painful. But what causes them to appear?
Varicose veins are a result of having weak vein walls and valves. There are small valves deep within the veins. They open up to allow blood to flow in one direction.
They close thereafter to keep the blood from flowing back.
As people age or gain weight, the walls of the veins stretch farther than they should. When this happens, the walls lose their elasticity and weaken. In turn, blood may leak and flow backward, causing clots that end up as varicose veins.
It is about time you learn about the difference between varicose veins and spider veins as these two are often confused with each other. The only difference between the two is the size of the vein that is affected. In both cases, the affected veins twist and turn and are visible under the skin. If not treated on time, varicose/spider veins can lead to a bigger problem, which is why you need specialists like the Vein Center to help you out.
How to Get Rid of Varicose Veins: The Treatments
Thankfully, having varicose veins is not a life sentence. Several treatments help reduce, if not eliminate varicose veins. But your main concern is finding the ones that will best work with your condition.
Some of the most serious cases require treatments from an advanced vein center. Let’s take a look at some of the best options on how to get rid of varicose veins below:
Sclerotherapy
This treatment involves injecting a special solution that works by closing the veins. The doctor injects the solution directly into the vessel to seal off the veins. This, in turn, causes blood to naturally reroute toward healthy veins near the area.
Some veins require more than one round of injection. In a couple of weeks, you will begin to notice the varicose veins fading. People with spider veins will benefit the most from this treatment.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy
This outpatient procedure aims to remove the varicose veins through small, slit-like incisions. Despite being invasive, you can expect only minimal scarring after the wounds heal.
But before the dermatologist performs the procedure, he will first determine if the varicose veins are the root of the problem. This is because other veins may need treatment first before the procedure.
The dermatologist will also check if the clots are deep or superficial. If they fall into the former, the doctor will have to address them first.
This procedure, however, is not for everyone. If you wear compression stockings or are unable to walk on your own, this is not the treatment for you.
Endovenous Laser Ablation
Instead of cutting through your skin, endovenous laser ablation uses laser therapy. It works by directing strong bursts of light toward the veins to make the latter disappear.
Sometimes, dermatologists use radiofrequency energy. Regardless of the method they use, you don’t need to worry about scarring. You will not encounter needles and incisions during the procedure.
But expect some itching, bruising, or swelling as you recover.
Ligation and Stripping
Like the ambulatory phlebectomy, the ligation and stripping treatment involves incisions and threading. The doctor will perform two incisions. The first one is near the groin on top of the target vein while the other is around the knee or ankle.
He will then tie the top vein and seal it. Thereafter, he will thread a thin, flexible wire through the vein’s bottom. He will complete the process by pulling out the wire and with it, goes the vein.
It will take you around 1 to 3 weeks to recover. You may also need to wear compression socks during recovery.
Home Remedies to Consider
If you notice varicose veins are starting to appear, then it is still in its early stages. During such instances, may still reduce the symptoms by following these simple home remedies:
Exercise
Start by exercising and increasing your daily physical activity. Regular exercise helps relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, especially during their early stages. Exercising helps improve your blood circulation.
But make sure to pick the right kinds of exercises. Anything that puts too much strain on your legs like running is not advisable. Stick to yoga and stretching for starters.
If you are in the office, don’t sit at your workstation all day. Stand up and move around the office. Also, avoid crossing your legs when sitting.
Leg Elevation
One of the symptoms of early varicose veins is leg swelling. Thus, elevate your legs to improve blood circulation.
You want to raise your legs above your heart’s level. Hold your position for 20 minutes. Do this three to four times a day while watching TV or reading a book.
Those Compression Stockings
Wearing compression stockings does work if you have varicose veins. Whenever you feel pain or discomfort in the legs, slip on a pair of elastic support stockings. Wearing them compresses your veins.
In turn, it prevents blood from flowing backward.
Some Herbs Can Help
If you are experiencing some swelling and discomfort, consider trying some herbal remedies. The National Institute of Health recommends taking grape seed extract orally to reduce swelling.
But make sure you are not taking any blood-thinning medications. Grape seed extracts may have contraindications to certain medications.
Improve Your Overall Health
Now that you know how to get rid of varicose veins, you can consult your doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition. But if you wish to improve your overall health, you need to eat right and tweak your lifestyle a bit.
We invite you to expand your knowledge of health through our different articles. We discuss health tips and important topics that will help you become a healthier person.
