How to Recognize Varicose Veins at Home?

November 22, 2022 | By admin

How to Recognize Varicose Veins at Home?

According to studies, almost 20% of adults will be affected by varicose veins at some point. This condition often affects the lower leg and can cause a lot of uncomfortable symptoms in the patient due to enlarged and twisted veins.

Varicose veins, if not treated properly, can even lead to life-threatening complications. This is why if you are suffering from this condition, then you need to know everything about it.

     

What are Varicose Veins?

It is a commonly known fact that veins direct blood to the heart by using valves and the pressure created by the muscle contractions that occur when one moves. However, veins, their walls, and valves can be damaged by injuries or wear and tear over the years.

When blood is unable to return to the heart and instead pools in a vein due to weakened walls or valves, then one might develop varicose veins. These veins can cause pain, itching, and general discomfort. It can also lead to serious complications.

This condition is often associated with older women. But anyone at any age can experience this condition. Individuals who are pregnant, obese, older, have had previous leg injuries, or smoke has a higher risk of developing varicose veins. Spending too much time sitting or standing and having a family history of varicose veins can also be a risk factor.

How to Check for Varicose Veins at Home?

Varicose veins can be quite unsightly and can negatively impact the health of an individual. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to bleeding, venous ulcers, and life-threatening blood clots. So, one should routinely check for varicose veins at home.

Checking for varicose veins at home is a simple procedure. One should start by standing up and leaving the leg in place for a minute or two. If one notices bulging, tense veins in the calf, thigh, knee, foot, or ankle, then take note of it. Squeeze these veins with a finger.

If the veins disappear or become smaller when you raise the leg above your heart or feel less tense when you lie down, then that is probably a case of varicose veins. Apart from the presence of visible, bluish, bulging veins, one might also observe:

  • Stasis dermatitis refers to an itchy rash that can result in cracked skin
  • Muscle cramping
  • Discoloured patches of skin
  • Throbbing sensations or a dull ache in the legs, specifically after a prolonged period of standing or sitting
  • Hyperpigmentation around the ankles
  • Ulceration

If one is experiencing several of these symptoms without any visibly bulging or twisted veins, then it is important to visit a medical professional for an ultrasound. This will help in diagnosing the condition.

     

Preventing Varicose Veins

Exercise helps in blood circulation and moves the pooled blood responsible for enlarged veins back to the heart. Low-impact activities like swimming, stretching, walking, cycling, and yoga are great for this.

These exercises help in improving circulation and blood pressure without the same risk of injury that high-impact activities have. If one does not have time to exercise in the middle of the day, try to move regularly and elevate your legs.

Flex your feet and tense your leg muscles to manage symptoms and prevent new varicose veins from forming. Wear compression stockings to prevent the formation of varicose veins. These stockings improve circulation, reduce discomfort, and stop existing varicose veins from worsening.

Beyond this, one should consider eating a healthy diet and flavonoid-filled foods to reduce constipation and improve blood circulation. One can also use other herbal remedies to reduce cramping and swelling.

Treatment of Varicose Veins

Seeking treatment for varicose veins is extremely important as it won’t just improve the appearance of an individual but may even save a life. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious complication caused due to untreated varicose veins. DVT can lead to pulmonary embolism, which is a potentially fatal complication where a clot blocks blood flow to the lungs.

One should only get the treatment of varicose veins from a qualified plastic surgeon. The surgeon must have the right experience and skills to perform the procedure. And if you are looking for such a surgeon, then your search ends at Divine Cosmetic Surgery.

     

Why Get Treatment at Divine Cosmetic Surgery?

At Divine Cosmetic Surgery, we have a team of qualified medical professionals who have decades of collective experience. This team of medical professionals is led by Dr. Amit Gupta, who is an extremely skilled plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience.

Dr. Amit Gupta and his team ensure that every patient gets the treatment results that he or she needs. So, if you are suffering from varicose veins, then you can easily get the right results at Divine Cosmetic Surgery.

Book your first consultation today!