Varicose veins are swollen, twisted blood vessels that protrude just under the skin’s surface. These purple or blue bumps generally appear on legs, feet, and ankles. They can be painful or irritating. They occur when veins become enlarged, inflated, and glutted with blood. The illness affects a lot of people, mostly women. Around 25% of all adults have varicose veins. Read this article to know about laser treatment for varicose veins.
CAUSES OF VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins occur when veins aren’t working perfectly which escalates blood pressure in the veins. Veins have one-way valves that avert blood from flowing backward. When these valves fail, blood begins to accumulate in the veins rather than continuing toward the heart. The veins then magnify. These often affect the legs because these veins are most remote from the heart, and gravity makes it difficult for the blood to flow upward.
Some probable causes for varicose veins include:
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
- Age over 50
- Standing for long periods
- Obesity
- Family history of varicose veins
RISK FACTORS OF VARICOSE VEINS
Factors that may increase pressure include:
- Overweight
- Older age
- Being female
- Being inactive
- Leg injury
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Consuming oral contraceptive pills or hormone replacement
ARE VARICOSE VEINS DANGEROUS?
With severe varicose veins, there is a minute chance of developing blood clots in the right deep veins. Blood clots need medical observation right away. Symptoms of blood clots involve pain, swelling, and redness of the leg. Blood clots may also take place in the arms or other parts of the body. If you have these indications that may mean you have a blood clot, visit a healthcare provider. A piece of the blood clot may detach and travel to the lungs. A blood clot in the lungs is very consequential and symptoms may include chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing, a fast heartbeat, sweating, and fainting.
SYMPTOMS
These are the most ordinary symptoms of varicose veins. However, each individual may encounter symptoms differently.
- The color shift in the skin
- aching on the legs
- Rashes
- Leg sensations such as heaviness, burning, and discomfort
Severe varicose veins may develop into long-term mild swelling that can result in more serious skin and tissue problems. These comprise ulcers and non-healing sores.
CAN VARICOSE VEINS BE CURED?
Varicose veins can be eliminated in a variety of ways, which means that these veins are not permanent. However, a person can encounter new varicose veins even after receiving treatment, and some veins may need to be treated more than once.
When varicose veins are left untreated, blood continues to accumulate in the veins and all too often worsens the situation, giving rise to one of the following conditions:
- Increase in pain and swelling – When varicose veins are not treated, they continue to deteriorate, worsening the pain.
- Prolonged symptoms-Just because someone with varicose veins has no symptoms at the moment does not mean they will never have them. Indeed, the longer varicose veins are left untreated, the more likely they are to feel pain as early as possible.
- Tiredness and weakness –Over time, untreated varicose veins can cause weakness in the legs, meaning that the individual becomes tired more quickly and with greater severity. For people who have an active lifestyle or occupations that require them to stand all day, this can be an enormous consequence.
- Ulcers– Untreated varicose veins can increase wound changes like ulcers growing. They can also cause self-bleeding and make it more difficult for them.
- Other conditions– Blood clots, lipodermatosclerosis, and potentially fatal deep vein thrombosis can develop as a result of untreated varicose veins.
LASER TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS
A laser is a very concentrated luminous beam. A doctor can use a laser to eliminate varicose veins. A vein is damaged by laser heat, resulting in scarring. As a result of this scar tissue, the vein closes. Closed veins lose their blood supply and die. The vein will likely disappear within a year or two. No cuts or needles are used. This procedure is considered for the elimination of varicose veins from the body.
Simple laser treatment
Laser vein therapy is done outside the skin. It can treat spider veins and small varicose veins right beneath the skin’s surface. Usually, more than one laser session is necessary. They are scheduled every 6 to 12 weeks, according to your doctor’s prescriptions. (If you have poor blood flow feeding these tiny veins, the largest “nourishing” vein should first be treated by surgery, endovenous laser, or radio-frequency.)
Endovenous laser treatment
Endovenous laser therapy can treat bigger varicose veins in the legs. The laser fiber is passed through a thin tube (catheter) in the vein. Meanwhile, the doctor monitors the vein through a duplex ultrasound monitor. The laser is less painful than the ligature of the veins and the stripping, and it has a shorter recovery time. Only local anesthesia or mild sedation is required for laser treatment. (For ligation and stripping, general anesthesia is used to help you fall asleep.)
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, if varicose veins are not treated, they will worsen and cause greater discomfort, damage, and other symptoms. It is crucial to seek laser treatment for this reason. A vein specialist can assess your veins, medical background, and lifestyle choices to provide laser treatment recommendations that include not only prescription drugs or other medical procedures but also behavioral modifications that can halt the condition’s progression and lessen symptoms.