|
|
Varicose Veins
PROBLEMS WITH Veins
There arc two main vein conditions that affect the legs. The
first, and less problematic, is the appearance of spider or
thread veins (telangiectasia) on the thighs and inside knees.
These are not "broken" veins but capillaries whose walls have
lost their elasticity and so remain permanently and obviously
dilated. Such veins may be genetically inherited or induced
by long-term use of steroids, pregnancy or being severely
overweight. The most common treatment for spider veins is
sclerotherapy, where an inflammatory fluid is injected into the
capillaries to seal them off. Laser treatment that vaporizes the
capillaries is also becoming popular.
The second is the appearance of varicose veins from mid-
life onward. The main cause of varicose veins is overweight,
as it leads to increased pressure bearing down on the legs.
Pregnancy also triggers them, owing to the extra weight and
hormonal changes, which relax and dilate the vein walls to
accommodate the 50 per cent increase of blood in the body.
Veins that become varicose are in fact superficial "feeder"
veins, which supply the deep veins and arteries, these veins
contain valves that prevent blood from flowing back, and
when they fail problems begin: blood pools, pressure rises and
the veins dilate, lengthen, twist and become knotted.
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF
Varicose veins
Varicose veins are both ugly and painful. They can cause
throbbing, aching, night cramps and swollen ankles especially in hot weather, during menstruation and when standing for
long periods. Treatment may be sclerotherapy, which seals the
veins, although the pressure of blood may force them open
again in a few years and the recurrence rate after 10 years as high as 90 per cent. The more permanent solution is
surgery, involving tiny stab incisions, which allow the veins to
be stripped out either in sections or in total. The circulation
is then diverted to other veins.
You can help prevent varicose veins by exercising or
swimming to boost circulation and avoiding sitting with your
legs crossed or pressing on a hard chair edge. Put your feet up
at regular intervals during the day and especially in the
evening. Eat a fiber-rich diet to prevent constipation. Aloe
Vera juice is also an excellent bowel tonic. Supplements that
may help include circulation-boosting gingko biloba and vein-strengthening silica.
|
|
|
