What are varicose veins and what can you do about them?

Varicose veins plague both men and women, particularly as they get older. Caused by weakened valves and veins in your legs, this condition is often hereditary. You have one-way valves in your veins that keep your blood moving from your legs upward to your heart. When these valves stop working efficiently, blood will collect in your legs and vein pressure increases.

Your veins eventually suffer weakness, become twisted and get larger, making them noticeable to the naked eye. You need not be a senior to develop this condition. Even younger people who may be overweight, pregnant or work at a job requiring that they stand up for long periods can suffer from varicose veins.

Common varicose vein treatment includes wearing compression stockings, propping up (elevating) your legs, avoiding prolonged standing in one spot, and getting regular exercise, particularly walking or jogging. Varicose vein removal is seldom necessary, but you might consider it if your symptoms worsen or you are troubled by your appearance.

While varicose veins are seldom medically serious, at times they might signal that you have a blockage in deeper, away-from-the-surface, veins. This condition, deep vein thrombosis, may need more complex treatment. Doctors concerned about this condition may need to intensify varicose vein treatment after an accurate diagnosis.

In addition to varicose vein removal, more complex treatments include scierotherapy (to close off the vein), laser treatment, which destroys the vein, radio frequency treatment, or surgical vein tie off. While these varicose vein treatment options sound rather ominous, in most cases compression stockings or elevating your legs should minimize your discomfort.

Content Provided by Spot55.com

Share this story!
Your health risks as a caregiver
Home health caregivers often are risking their own health as they care for loved ones. The caregiver chores can present danger to mental, emotional and...
REPORT FOR DUTY BY REPORTING FRAUD
In July, with American flags flying, we celebrate our nation’s birthday and the freedoms and protections we hold dear. Although love for your country can...

Related

Sizing Up a Potential Partner
If you are looking for your own potential sweetheart, you want both your heart and your head involved in the decision. That’s usually easier to...
Benefits of using natural toner for the skin
Most beauty experts indicate that using a natural toner is the most important step in the ideal beauty regimen, and it is the key to...
Tackling the challenges of the blended family
How do grandparents deal with the conflicts associated with step families, including step grandchildren. Raising a blended family from the second tier – a grandparent’s...
Must-have kitchen gadgets for cooks with arthritis
Unscrewing the stubborn top of a jar can strain anyone. But for those of us with arthritis, performing that simple act is practically impossible. In...
Gardening in style – the latest in garden fashion
Just because gardening makes you dirty does not mean it has to make you frumpy. The latest in garden fashion falls right into line with...
How to bridge a family divide
Families aren't always close. Often, it's not because family members want it this way, but that they feel this divide is too large to fix....

BE IN THE KNOW

NWPT-Subscribe

Recent Posts

Looking Back: Reminiscence for people with dementia
Memorial Day Weekend Opens Seattle’s Outdoor Music Season
Aging Waters, Jumpin’ Geriatrics and Other Fun for Seniors
Creating and Caring for Shade Gardens
Does Medicare Cover Vision Care and Eye Exams?

BE IN THE KNOW

NWPT-Subscribe

Recent Posts

Looking Back: Reminiscence for people with dementia
Memorial Day Weekend Opens Seattle’s Outdoor Music Season
Aging Waters, Jumpin’ Geriatrics and Other Fun for Seniors
Creating and Caring for Shade Gardens
Does Medicare Cover Vision Care and Eye Exams?