Treatments are available for varicose veins. Many of them are simple things you can start right now.
Elevate your legs as much as possible. If you can take half-hour breaks during the day to rest, do it. It is important to raise your legs up above the level of your heart to get the maximum effect, and to do this for about a half-hour each time.
Wear compression stockings (such as Ted Hose or Jobst stockings). The key is to put them on in the morning before you start walking around and before your veins become more swollen. If you try them and experience worsening pain, especially after you have been walking, remove them and see your health care provider. You may have problems with the blood supply to your legs (the arterial supply, which provides oxygen).
If you are overweight, try to lose weight. A healthy diet high in fiber and low in fat and salt can help.
Avoid alcohol, which can cause the veins in your legs to dilate.
See your health care provider if you have problems such as chronic constipation, urinary retention, or chronic cough. Relieving conditions that are causing you to strain may help with the varicose veins.
Avoid wearing tight clothing such as girdles or belts.
Do not cross your legs when sitting.
Walking is good exercise. It can help the muscles force the blood out of the deeper vein system.
If you are driving on a trip or working at a desk all day, try to get up and walk around every hour or so to allow the muscles to pump the blood out of the veins.
Medical Treatment
Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical inside the vein that obliterates it. The treatment is only helpful for the spider veins and very small veins. It has no use in the treatment of large varicose veins.
Even for the smaller veins, many treatments are usually necessary.
The therapy is not totally successful in helping symptoms and preventing formation of more varicose veins.
Complications associated with this technique include allergic reactions to the chemical used, stinging or burning at the various injection sites, inflammation, skin ulcerations, and permanent discoloration of the skin.
Bandages often remain in place for as long as 3 weeks.
Wearing compression stockings is usually recommended after treatment.
Lasers have received attention recently as a treatment for varicose veins but are frequently used in the treatment of smaller spider veins, medically referred to as telangiectasias.
These veins are small, measuring only up to 1 millimeter in diameter, and represent dilated capillaries.
Using lasers to treat these smaller vessels can cause changes in the color or texture of the skin.
Multiple treatments are often required.
Since this mode of therapy is relatively new, only time and experience will tell if it is as effective as older techniques.
If you have superficial thrombophlebitis, your health care provider will usually recommend warm compresses and pain medication. Additional treatment depends on whether your physician thinks you may have an infection.
Circulatory System
Circulatory System, or cardiovascular system, in humans, the combined function of the heart, blood, and blood vessels to transport oxygen and nutrients to organs and tissues throughout the body and carry away waste products. Among its vital functions, the circulatory system increases the flow of blood to meet increased energy demands during exercise and regulates body temperature.
