Varicose veins

What Is Varicose veins?

Varicose is also known as varicosities, and it is a very common condition that occurs in almost 25 percent of adults all over the world. Backflow of blood occurs generally due to damaged valves. Whenever the veins get dilated or enlarged, they fill up with blood and look swollen. They generally are seen in legs and feet of people. Varicose veins are more common among women than men. It is a chronic issue which means it can last for the lifetime and cause a lot of pain whenever they occur. 

What Are The Symptoms Of Varicose veins?

The most common symptoms of varicosities are aching or pain in the area that signifies a blood circulatory issue beneath. For a few people, it is some sort of discomfort they cannot explain. For others, it is simply a cosmetic issue. Usually, the veins are seen bulging out from underneath the skin of the affected area. This happens near the legs or feet.

Sometimes portions of skin surrounding one or more veins get inflamed. Other times it could be swelling occurring in legs after sitting in a particular position for a long time. It could also get started by standing for long period of time. Even the place around the veins starts to itch at times. There will be red discoloration around the swollen/ affected veins area.

These are the most common symptoms to identify the disease is varicose veins. Other symptoms include muscle cramps or a throbbing feeling in the affected area. In most cases, there is no need for imaging or laboratory tests to confirm the disease.

What Are The Causes Of Varicose veins?

There are several causes of varicose veins. Below are the most common reasons why people suffer from swollen veins:

• The most common causes for varicose veins are the valves in the body that allow for blood backflow. Increasing venous pressure causes the superficial veins to swell or twist. As there is not much muscular support for the top veins it causes them to become varicose.
• Reasons that could cause varicosities are standing for too long or excessive abdominal pressure. Other reasons include chronic constipation, pregnancy, obesity and also tumours. However, tumours are the most uncommon causes of varicose veins.
• Heredity is another factor why varicose veins could occur. This means that if you have a close blood relative who has this health issue then you may have this issue. So genetics also plays a role in the cause of varicose veins. The causes could also be any pressure inducing activities or conditions like pregnancy, constipation or obesity. This is because of excess pressure on the legs area.

What Are The Things One Should Do To Manage Varicose veins?

Remember what to do so that varicose veins do not increase. The points mentioned below will help reduce varicose veins: 

• Do use or wear elastic socks or compressor support stockings. This helps to reduce or give relief to the issue.
• Do wear low heeled shoes or flat shoes are even better as it helps the blood to move freely through your calf muscles. The lower legs are more relaxed in low heeled shoes.

What Are The Things One Should Avoid To Manage Varicose veins?

People suffering from varicose veins must remember the following things to avoid:

• Do not stand for a long period of time as this induces pressure upon the veins thereby causing them to bulge and making the problem worse.
• Do not strain at the time of passing stools if you are suffering from constipation. This is one of the major causes of varicose veins.
• Do not even hold breath for long periods of time as this once again will exert pressure on the bloodstream causing it to go backwards which in turn causes the veins to swell up.
• Avoid certain kinds of sports activities that because of the impact it has on the legs. This includes the sports such as karate, judo, taekwondo, running, squash, tennis, football, skiing, and water skiing. 

What Are The Best Foods For Varicose veins?

Checking your diet will help to reduce or prevent further varicose veins. Eat the below food types:

• Low Sodium Foods: Consume foods that are low in sodium. This will help reduce the blood pressure thereby reducing the aggravation of swollen veins.Few low sodium foods are fresh fruits like oranges, bananas and apples, fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrot, and spinach.
• Whole Grain Foods: One of the beneficial foods for varicose veins is whole-grain foods. This includes flaxseed, wheat, oats, figs, nuts, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, carrots, plums, artichokes, and onions.
• Fibre-Rich Foods: Eat the above foods as they are rich in fibre and these will ease issues like constipation which is one of the most common causes/ factors of varicose veins. A few fibre rich foods are fruits, whole wheat flour, and brown rice.
• Potassium-Rich Foods: Consume foods that are rich in potassium. When your body is deficient of potassium there is too much of water retention. This causes more volume of blood flow to the veins causing them to swell. Foods high in potassium include simple foods like yoghurt, salmon, almonds, lentils, white beans, tuna, dates, oranges, chicken, pistachios, and dates.
• Green Leafy Vegetables: Leafy vegetables will go a great extent to help regulate the blood flow and hence alleviates the problem. This is a very good food type to consume in order to reduce the varicose veins. Some green leafy vegetables that can consume are:
• Rutin Rich Foods: Last but not the least Rutin is a flavonoid that has multiple positive effects on the human body. These plants extract work great on fragile blood capillaries which are commonly known as blood vessels that hold blood. It reduces the permeability of the capillaries thereby reducing the chances of varicose veins. Some examples of foods rich in rutoside, a bioflavonoid are a citrus fruit, buckwheat, apples, and gingko biloba, apricots, grapes, and blackberry. 

What Are The Worst Foods For Varicose veins?

The patients who suffer from varicose veins must avoid certain foods as mentioned here:

• Foods containing salt: Salty foods make the blood pressure rise higher and this makes the problem start once again. Some foods that contain high quantity of salt are pickles, pizza, and canned foods. One should consider putting less salt in one’s food.
• Alcohol beverages: While studies are on to find out the link between alcohol and varicose veins, it is probably one of the worst foods to consume as it aggravates the problem. So avoid and try to stop consuming alcohol.
• Foods containing Salt BPA: Bisphenol A is also known as BPA. This works as a chemical like an oestrogen that has been linked to greater risk of swollen veins. Several canned foods are stored in plastic cans containing BPA. So check the label for Bisphenol A and avoid eating too much of such foods.

What Are The Medicines For Varicose veins?

What Are The Tips To Manage Varicose veins?

These are other tips to help prevent/ take care of varicose veins:

• Smoking has also been linked to the varicose veins. Try and reduce or avoid completely for a pair of legs free from varicose veins.
• Supervised physical activity is one of the simplest, natural and affordable treatments within the comfort of your home. It would distribute the blood that collects at a spot to the entire body.
• Making dietary changes go a great way to help varicose veins. This is because some foods aggravate the condition and some relieve the condition. There is a detailed list above for the same.
• There are several herbal remedies that are available for the treatment of varicose veins. These include grape seed extract that would go a great way to help relieve the problem. It eases chronic venous symptoms like cramping in the legs, restless legs and swelling in the legs too.