Australian Women and Varicose Veins: Causes and Treatments

Varicose veins in legs are a frequent problem highly among Australian women. Most frequently, an individual who’s distressed from such medical condition is observed to have manifested varicose veins towards her legs. With colors blue, red and/or flesh, these varicose veins are found as the result of chronic dilatation wherein an irregularity with the normal blood flow happens causing for it to puddle the vein instead of moving from one valve to another as usual transition. According to medical researches, the aforesaid condition is triggered when our valves didn’t seal properly because the vein walls are pushed apart which also makes the blood challenging to push upwards by our muscles.

Types of Women at Risk of Developing Varicose Veins

Meanwhile, for women who are facing a higher risk of acquiring varicose veins, factors such as obesity, birth pill intake, pregnancy, menopause and constipation are the leading reasons why they are most likely to suffer from such condition compared to men. Accordingly, the symptoms of varicose veins are composed of cramps, irregular scar-like skin patches, restless legs syndrome (RLS), swelling ankles and/or feet including dryness and itchiness of the skin as well as experiencing a worsened pain after an individual sit or stand within a long period of time. Also, observing some spider veins would confirm that varicose veins are emerging already.

Common Treatments for Varicose Veins

For most people, varicose veins are classified as a type of cosmetic problem alone. However, through the years, having varicose veins are not only known for causing pains and discomfort towards an affected individual. Alarmingly, apart from a poor cosmetic appearance, varicose veins which are usually manifested in our legs can lead to severe health problems as well. Such point explains why it’s necessary seeking for medical attention from a varicose veins clinic immediately even if there is some available home remedies to follow. Below are the leading medical procedures to choose from.

1. Ambulatory phlebectomy – Considered as a minor surgical, the ambulatory phlebectomy removes varicose veins by making small incisions in a patient’s skin. While its procedure sounds uncomplicated, individuals who also suffers walking or those who are wearing compression stockings are not allowed to undergo ambulatory phlebectomy. Apart from that, inflammations as well as temporary bruising and swelling are some complications to prevent.

2. Vein stripping and ligation – Intended for severe cases of varicose veins, the vein stripping and ligation involves a careful procedure of tying and removing a patient’s affected veins from the skin by making small cuts near the top, middle and bottom of the varicose veins. Also, the patient would receive a general anesthesia for a temporary sleep so that he or she would not feel any pain during the process. It usually takes an hour or more.

3. Laser treatment – Mostly opted for spider veins removal on a patient’s face, laser treatment can also eliminate varicose veins without surgery. During this procedure, a tiny fiber would be inserted towards an affected vein using a catheter. This would support sending the laser energy which would remove varicose veins by destroying its ailing portion causing for the affected veins to close and be absorbed by the body.

4. Sclerotherapy – Done by injecting a salt solution such as hypertonic saline, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (sotradecol) or polidocanol (ascelra), the sclerotherapy intentionally causes irritation towards the lining of an affected vein. During the process, swelling and sticking of the vein is expected while blood clotting would happen as well. Eventually, after the treating the affected vein, it would turn into scars fading from view.

Even though most cases of varicose veins are benign or harmless, an affected individual including both men and women, must become aware that having a severe leg varicosity or varicose veins in this specific part of the body may propagate to some more serious health conditions. This is why it is important for women suffering from such condition to consult with a varicose veins clinic the soonest possible time.