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What are varicose veins and how do they affect our health?

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Varicose Veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs and feet. That's because standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of your lower body. Varicose veins are caused by a very real circulatory disease called chronic venous insufficiency, or CVI. If left untreated, nearly 50% of patients will eventually experience chronic venous insufficiency. This condition can happen for many reasons, primary among which are aging, hereditary, and hormonal changes, but when it occurs, the tiny valves within the veins that are supposed to close after blood flows through them on its way to the heart and the lungs start to malfunction. Instead of closing properly, they begin to “leak,” which allows blood to flow “backwards” into the veins and pool there. This is what causes them to swell and become discoloured, resulting in the bluish-purple colour of deoxygenated blood.

This deoxygenated blood, unable to reach the upper body to be rejuvenated, contains a number of toxins such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide. This can cause irritation as the toxins begin to affect the sensitive inner walls of the veins, and can result in inflammation. At the same time, increased pressure inside the veins can cause the walls of the veins themselves to allow blood to leak into surrounding tissues.

Over time, red blood cells that have leaked from the swollen veins begin to disintegrate, depositing hemoglobin and other substances into muscle tissue and skin. The result of all this is that the skin covering these swollen veins can become chronically irritated and inflamed, leading to symptoms that start with itching but can quickly progress to tenderness or actual pain. If untreated, this can lead to a darkening of the skin around the veins that is known as varicose eczema. As the varicose veins worsen with time, more and more blood may leak into surrounding tissues, increasing the damage. This can result in further symptoms such as restless leg syndrome or cramping, or ultimately in the development of skin ulcers or thrombosis {blood clots}.

Without treatment they worsen with symptoms and health risks affecting your quality of life and ability to perform normal life activities. Varicose veins and spider veins — a common, mild variation of varicose veins — are simply a cosmetic concern. 

For other people, varicose veins can cause aching pain and discomfort. Sometimes varicose veins lead to more-serious problems.Varicose veins may also signal a higher risk of other circulatory problems. Treatment may involve self-care measures or procedures by your doctor to close or remove veins.

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Signs/Symptoms:

Visually noticeable enlarged veins and darkish-blue in color accompanied with complaints of aching/throbbing, burning,

heaviness in your legs, fatigue, itchiness, and tender to the touch.

Occasionally they may contribute to ulcers forming especially near the ankles and varicose veins can also form painful blood clots.

Varicose veins may not cause any pain. Signs you may have with varicose veins include:

-Veins that are dark purple or blue in color

-Veins that appear twisted and bulging; often like cords on your legs

When painful signs and symptoms occur, they may include:

An achy or heavy feeling in your legs

-Fatigue, low energy levels

-Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs

-Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time

-Itching around one or more of your veins

-Bleeding from varicose veins

-A painful cord in the vein with red discoloration of the skin

-Color changes, hardening of the vein, inflammation of the skin or skin ulcers near your ankle, which can mean you have a serious form of vascular disease that requires medical attention

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, but they're smaller. Spider veins are found closer to the skin's surface and are often red or blue. They occur on the legs, but can also be found on the face. Spider veins vary in size and often look like a spider's web.​

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Complications of Varicose Veins:

.Ulcers: Extremely painful ulcers may form on the skin near varicose veins, particularly near the ankles. Ulcers are caused by long-term fluid buildup in these tissues, caused by increased pressure of blood within affected veins. A discolored spot on the skin usually begins before an ulcer forms. 60% of legs ulcers are due to varicose veins.

See your doctor immediately if you suspect you've developed an ulcer.

.Blood clots: Occasionally, veins deep within the legs become enlarged. In such cases, the affected leg may swell considerably.

 Any sudden leg swelling warrants urgent medical attention because it may indicate a blood clot — a condition known medically as thrombophlebitis.

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.Bleeding: Occasionally, veins very close to the skin may burst. This usually causes only minor bleeding. But, any bleeding   warrants medical attention because there's a high risk it can happen again.

MEN have varicose veins too

Men think of varicose veins as a women's problem when in fact men have varicose veins as well--20% of men have varicose veins in comparison to 25% of women in Canada. Varicose veins are yet another condition where males are statistically less likely to consult a physician than females. Just like women who wear compression stockings, men need to wear them too for the management and treatment of varicose veins and other venous disorders.

Factors that predispose one to varicose veins

-women are twice as susceptible as men

-prolonged standing or sitting in one place

-obesity

-pregnancy

-prior trauma or surgery to the leg

-family history of varicose veins:

  if both parents have varicose veins your chances to develop the disease are close to 90%,

  if one parent is affected, daughters have 60% chance while some sons have 35% chance of developing the disease

-over 50 yrs of age

-menopause

-people who travel long distance

Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Varicose Veins:   

Is is Possible to prevent Varicose Veins?

There's no way to completely prevent varicose veins but improving your circulation and muscle tone can reduce your risk of developing varicose veins or getting additional ones.

If the veins are causing pain, soreness, and muscle fatigue or cramping, there are important lifestyle changes that may prevent varicose veins from forming or prevent them from getting worse such as:

-Wear COMPRESSION STOCKINGS

-Avoid standing for long periods of time

-Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight

-Exercise to improve your circulation: with leg exercise almost 90% of venous blood in the leg is pumped through

  the deep veins. Therefore exercise significantly helps!!

-Elevate your legs so they rest at or above the level of your heart

-don't smoke or quit smoking

-Keep your bowels moving daily, straining puts pressure on your valves in your legs

-Wear COMPRESSION STOCKINGS {yes, I'm saying it TWICE!!}

Medical Treatments for Varicose Veins

If none of these home remedies do not give you enough improvement, then you can opt for medical treatments such as surgery or vein ligation and stripping which is a surgical treatment that requires anesthesia. During this procedure, your surgeon makes cuts in your skin, cuts the varicose vein, and removes it through the incisions. Although updated variations of vein-stripping surgeries have been developed, they are less commonly performed because newer, less invasive options are available. Plus surgery is very costly, and the recovery time is much longer and more discomforting than the less invasive treatments such as sclerotherapy.

Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that treats varicose veins and spider veins. It involves injecting chemicals, known as sclerosing agents, into damaged veins. A solution is injected directly into the abnormal vein or veins and the blood vessel collapses, destroyed and is reabsorbed. The surface veins are no longer visible.

The various types of invasive surgeries can be very affective and cosmetically appealing but will not stop the onset of varicose  veins from progressing. A healthy lifestyle is important which will ultimately be therapeutically beneficial for your veins and slow the disease process significantly. Most of all, remember to WEAR your COMPRESSION STOCKINGS!!!

Purpose of Compression Stockings

Properly tailored fitted compression stockings are specially designed to apply pressure to your lower legs to improve your blood flow, prevent venous blood pooling in the legs and feet by forcing blood back up to the heart more efficiently which improve leg symptoms: achy legs, heavy feeling in legs, swollen feet and legs, itchiness, bulging veins, fatigue, and decrease the risk of blood clots. While some patients will see their symptoms worsen, others could be at risk of coming down with a range of more serious, potentially life-threatening conditions.

Inherited weakness of the vein walls or valves create additional challenges to venous return so it is even more vitally important that compression stockings be worn to ensure adequate blood flow back up to the heart.

If left untreated, varicose veins usually result in excess blood leaking into the tissues of the leg. Compression stockings may be prescribed by your family Doctor if you have a medical condition that causes poor blood flow in your legs such as varicose veins, spider veins or just had surgery. All Doctors and health care professionals are aware that the BEST time of the day to be fitted for compression stockings is in the MORNING when swelling is the least. However, I am providing a professional service where I will come to your home in the morning to KnockOut that problem!!

When to Wear Compression Stockings

Compression stockings should be put on at the start of the day before you get out of bed. If you wait until later in the morning to put on your compression stockings, the blood will already begin to pool in the lower legs and feet making your symptoms worse.

Graduated compression is meant to be worn when you’re awake and moving around. It’s providing a constant amount of pressure to your circulatory system to fight gravity and pump that blood back to your heart. When you’re lying down, fully horizontal for a long period of time, your circulatory system doesn’t have to fight gravity. That pressure applied to your ankle and calf during the night can cut your circulation off. Some people do need to wear compression socks at night because of health issues or post-surgery and your doctor will advise you.

Medical Grade Graduated Compression Stockings

Medical grade graduated compression comes in different prescriptive levels based on the degree of compression ranging 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-50 mmHg. Having “graduated compression means that the compression is strongest at the ankle and gets lighter as you go up the leg. This allows circulation to efficiently move up the legs for adequate blood flow and prevents stagnation of blood pooling in the legs. The various levels depend on the severity of your medical condition of your veins. Your family Doctor will write a prescription, indicating the right compression level for you.

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Over the Counter 15-20 mmHg A low level of compression, such as 15-20 mmHg is a great choice for everyday compression stockings to help with mild swelling and fatigued legs due to long periods of travel, sitting or standing. 15-20 mmHg compression stockings come in knee high, thigh high, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose styles. Available for both men and women, there are many different styles to choose from. There are casual every day compression socks made to look like dress socks and casual cotton socks. There are also sheer fashion styles for women. Sports compression socks are also available in the 15-20 mmHg level of compression. A lot of people choose to wear the 15-20 mmHg compression for flying and travel. They’re comfortable and because there are numerous styles, more and more people are choosing to wear 15-20 mmHg compression into their lifestyles.

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Medical Grade Class I 20-30 mmHg

The 20-30 mmHg level of compression is the first medical grade compression. It’s the most widely used medical grade because it provides competent compression to your legs without being too strong. The 20-30 mmHg level of compression is great for managing swelling in your legs, spider veins, varicose veins, travel, sports and after certain surgeries. Pregnant mothers are also finding the benefits of compression stockings and are starting to wear 20-30 mmHg to alleviate heaviness, swelling and aching in their legs. The 20-30 mmHg level of compression is available in a wide variety of styles for both men and women in knee high, thigh high, pantyhose and maternity pantyhose styles. There are many fashionable styles to choose from:dressy, sporty, and opaque styles for 20-30 mmHg compression stockings.

Medical Grade Class II 30-40 mmHg

The 30-40 mmHg level of compression is a stronger medical grade class II. It’s recommended for leg health symptoms that range from moderate to severe. The 30-40 mmHg level of compression is also recommended when you have a blood clot or a deep vein thrombosis DVT. Patients with lymphedema are also recommended to use the 30-40 mmHg level of compression. When choosing the 30-40 mmHg compression, also be sure to think about what kind of fabric your compression stocking or sock should be. Because the stocking is providing more compression in the 30-40 mmHg strength, it’s a good idea to choose a more durable material. Sheer compression stockings that are 30-40 mmHg may be more prone to snags and holes.

Medical Grade Class III 40-50 mmHg The 40-50 mmHg level of compression is a very strong compression. It’s strongly recommend that people considering this level of compression have thoroughly consulted their doctor or healthcare professional about compression stockings and their health. This level of compression is used for severe venous stasis, wound management,

and lymphedema.

Contraindications for Compression Stockings:

Severe peripheral neuropathy or other causes of sensory impairment. Massive leg edema or pulmonary edema from congestive cardiac failure. Local skin or soft-tissue condition, including recent skin graft, fragile “tissue paper” skin, gangrene, oozing dermatitis and severe cellulitis.

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Care of your Compression Stockings

Wash your compression stockings every day to maintain the elasticity. Compression stockings can be machine-washed and machine- dried on a low-heat setting. Bonus!!

​Consult a Doctor when choosing a compression level for your travel socks or compression stockings, you’ll likely want to consult your doctor for recommendations. It's important to replace your compression stockings every five or six months in order to assure that they maintain their proper shape and compression level. Your family Doctor will write a prescription for you if its indicated with the compression level. Then you will need to see a Certified Compression Fitter like myself and I can assist you by professionally measuring your legs to ensure you get a proper fitted high quality KnockOut Legs at your Door compression garment!!