Do you even know what this is and whether or not is in important for your well being? Probably you have heard of varicose veins and, maybe, you think that they only affect old people? However, they need not be age related. Our heart needs to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of our bodies and circulate the used blood back through the lungs for re-oxygenation.
The Body’s Blood Supply
Blood has to go all the way down to the tips of our toes. Arteries provide the plumbing for the outgoing blood and the returning blood is known as venous blood. The tubes carrying the venous blood have pairs of leaflet valves to stop that blood going back the wrong way – particularly important in our legs since the blood has to flow uphill as it were (our leg muscles provide the pumping action). Valvular incompetence is when the valves are not functioning properly and retrograde flow or venous reflux occurs – i.e. the venous blood tries to flow back down towards the feet. This, in turn, will cause the lower part to become enlarged and swell up.
Swelling And Enlargement
The term varicose veins is applied to a valvular incompetence in an outer, superficial vein when it reaches the point where it can be clearly seen standing out from the flesh of the leg. This is not really a life threatening situation (as it would be if the problem was related to deep vein thrombosis); but, it can cause some pain (especially when standing up for some time) and maybe lead to other more serious complications. However, cosmetically, it will always be something of an eyesore.
Treatment
Men can hide the problem beneath their long pants; but women who wish to wear skirts or dresses do not have that option. Traditionally, a surgical procedure known as vein skimming was used to remove the enlarged portion. It was not major surgery and was often performed under a local anesthetic with the patient being released the same day. However, the recovery period was often quite extensive.
Less Invasive Treatments
Sclerotherapy is a procedure whereby a chemical is injected into a blood containing vessel to make it shrink; often it is performed under an ultrasound scan and can be successful for minor leg problems related to valvular incompetence. Newer methods; like radio frequency ablation and endovenous laser treatment, are also be used to treat Varicose Veins In Cincinnati, OH. Specialized clinics like the Anderson Cosmetic Hair & Vein Center can give you a free consultation to decide which treatment will be best for your actual condition.
