Sitting or standing for long is harmful to health. According to experts, this can lead to the development of varicose veins on the legs. These are enlarged and torturous veins which could lead to leg ulcer if not properly managed. WALE ADEPOJU reports.
THEY appear like lines on the legs. But they are unusually thick. Normally, the veins on people’s legs are not seen, but because these veins are growing abnormally, they shoot out. They are called varicose veins, a disease which disfigures the legs.
The disease is becoming rampant. Why? According to experts, because of the sedentary lifestyle of people and lack of morning walk.
According to a consultant cardiothoracic surgery at the indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India, Dr Krishan Pandey, lack of regular walk and long hours of sitting can cause the blue spider-like veins in the leg.
He said the demands of employment, especially job compulsion for youth, who have to sit all day as receptionists and traffic warden who stand, made people susceptible to the condition.
Pandey said women are also prone to the condition, especially expectant mothers, saying it could lead to non-healing ulcers in legs and feet, and disability, if there was no timely intervention.
He said people don’t pay attention to the disease until it’s worsened, adding: “We end up receiving totally multiple divergent medical advices and get really confused. Unfortunately, this kind of injudicious treatment usually leads to blackening and non-healing ulcer.”
Pandey identified computer professionals, office clerks and receptionists as the most vulnerable to the condition.
The others are traffic wardens, police control room personnel, scientists and technologists working in laboratories, among others.
He charged the people to always observe their legs and feet, saying: “If you find earthworm or spider-like blue thin veins in your legs or you notice black spots on your leg, especially in lower parts, believe me you have already developed varicose veins.”
He said surgery, laser or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment cannot cure it at the early stage, saying a drastic change in lifestyle will address the condition. “One has to walk for one hour in the morning and another one hour in the evening. People should avoid prolonged sitting and standing. Also, those obese should reduce extra weight,” he said.
Treatments, drugs for varicose
Fortunately, treatment usually doesn’t mean a hospital stay or a long, uncomfortable recovery. Thanks to less invasive procedures, varicose veins can generally be treated on an outpatient basis.
Support stockings
Self-care — such as exercising, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes, elevating your legs, and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting — can ease pain and prevent varicose veins from getting worse.
Compression stockings
Wearing compression stockings is often the first approach to try before moving on to other treatments. Compression stockings are worn all day. They steadily squeeze your legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. The amount of compression varies by type and brand.
You can buy compression stockings at most pharmacies and medical supply stores. Prices vary. Prescription-strength stockings also are available.
When purchasing compression stockings, make sure that they fit properly. Using a tape measure, you or your pharmacist can measure your legs to ensure you get the right size and fit according to the size chart found on the stocking package. Compression stockings should be strong, but not necessarily tight. If you have weak hands or arthritis, getting these stockings on may be difficult. There are devices to make putting them on easier.
Additional treatments for more-severe varicose veins
If you don’t respond to self-care, compression stockings, or if your condition is more severe, your doctor may suggest one of these varicose vein treatments:
Sclerotherapy. In this procedure, your doctor injects small- and medium-sized varicose veins with a solution that scars and closes those veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade. Although the same vein may need to be injected more than once, sclerotherapy is effective if done correctly. Sclerotherapy doesn’t require anesthesia and can be done in your doctor’s office.
Laser surgeries. Doctors are using new technology in laser treatments to close off smaller varicose veins and spider veins. Laser surgery works by sending strong bursts of light onto the vein, which makes the vein slowly fade and disappear. No incisions or needles are used.
Catheter-assisted procedures. In one of these treatments, your doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein and heats the tip of the catheter. As the catheter is pulled out, the heat destroys the vein by causing it to collapse and seal shut. This procedure is usually done for larger varicose veins.
Vein stripping. This procedure involves removing a long vein through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure for most people. Removing the vein won’t adversely affect circulation in your leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of blood.
Ambulatory phlebectomy
Your doctor removes smaller varicose veins through a series of tiny skin punctures. Only the parts of your leg that are being pricked are numbed in this outpatient procedure. Scarring is generally minimal.
Endoscopic vein surgery. You might need this operation only in an advanced case involving leg ulcers. Your surgeon uses a thin video camera inserted in your leg to visualize and close varicose veins, and then removes the veins through small incisions. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.
Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment within three to 12 months after delivery.
Be a cautious consumer
When it comes to treatment options for varicose veins, it pays to be a cautious health consumer. Advertisements claiming “unique,” “permanent” or “painless” methods to remove varicose veins may be appealing, but they may not actually measure up to those claims. Before having any procedure, ask your doctor about any health risks and possible side effects.
You may want to inquire about treatment costs, as well. Many insurance policies don’t cover the expense of elective cosmetic surgery for varicose veins. However, in many cases if you have signs or symptoms, such as swelling and bleeding, insurance may cover the treatment.
Current treatments for varicose veins and spider veins are effective. However, it’s possible that varicose veins can recur.
•Culled from www.mayoclinic. com
