Varicose Veins May Look Harmless, Don’t Ignore Them

Sometimes you see heavily pregnant women with enlarged, strong, twisted and unattractive veins coursing down their legs or ankles. To the wary, they are some of the numerous changes that a pregnant woman undergoes, and the conclusion is that the veins will disappear once the baby is born. In some cases, you can also find these protruding and oversized veins in overweight individuals; and the victims carry them around, thinking that the veins would disappear the same unceremonious way they appeared. Well, whether overweight, pregnant or slim, those who have varicose veins — also known as spider veins — should be told in no uncertain terms that the condition must not be ignored; rather, they should seek medical help. What causes varicose veins? General Practitioner, Dr. Mabel Ogunlusi, says a person develops varicose veins when the valves that normally keep blood flowing from the legs to the heart become weak and start to leak. When this happens, physicians say, blood can collect in the veins, causing them to become enlarged. The enlargement is what is referred to as varicose veins. She explains, “Varicose veins can occur anywhere in the body, but they are more commonly found on the legs. Some school of thought in the medical world believes that varicose veins can be inherited. While the jury is still out on that, what we know for sure is that people develop this health condition as a result of many reasons. “Some are purely not of anyone’s making. Take, for instance, a pregnant woman who develops varicose vein. As the pregnancy advances, the baby’s weight increases, the body retains more water, all of which puts extra pressure on the legs and feet. Consequently, for the pregnant woman, the unattractive strings may develop as a result of increased pressure on veins in the legs. “Haemorrhoids is another type of varicose vein that can appear during pregnancy around the anus or in the vagina. So, for the pregnant woman, it’s a lot of work to keep healthy while the period lasts, hence the need to keep in regular touch with the doctor.” A gynaecologist, Dr. Femi Adigun, assures that varicose veins usually improve within three months after delivery. “But in case they don’t, do see your doctor,” he advises. Experts warn that women are particularly susceptible to varicose veins because of the influence of progesterone on the veins and the effects of pregnancy. “Women are two to three times more likely to have varicose veins,” experts submit. Ogunlusi adds, “Again, those who stand or sit still for long periods of time — such as security men or office workers, for instance — risk developing varicose veins. This is mainly because blood doesn’t flow as well if a person maintains the same position for long periods, hence the need to stand up and walk around briefly every 30 minutes if yours is a sedentary job. And those who have history of blood clot on the legs may also develop varicose veins as time goes on.” If you are overweight, you may not escape developing varicose veins! “Obesity is a major risk factor for varicose veins. This is because excessive weight increases the pressure on the veins of the legs and aggravates the condition,” the physician says. In addition, bad dietary habit, smoking and inactivity are other causative factors for developing varicose veins, experts say. So, eat well, stop smoking, keep moving and get in shape. And when it comes to consequences of ageing, the general conclusion is that varicose veins usually affect people between the ages of 30 and 70. “With advancing age, the elastic shell of the veins begins to weaken, increasing the chance that the veins will dilate,” the physician enthuses. Experts also say that women who use birth control pills and other medicines that contain estrogen and progesterone may also develop varicose veins. Ogunlusi says if this happens, you may need to see your doctor so that he can discuss the idea of a better medication with fewer side effects. Don’t ignore the veins Of course, varicose veins can be uncomfortable; and Ogunlusi says the condition can result in more serious problems such as inflammation in the leg, medically called phlebitis. And that’s why we say it’s a medical condition that should not be ignored. Indeed, a cardiologist, Dr. Dele Akintoye, says varicose veins may become a cause for concern if the individual experiences increased warmth in one area of the leg, especially if the sensation is accompanied by discolouration or oedema (swelling), and also if the person feels pain or tenderness in the leg when he walks or stands. “Any sudden leg swelling requires urgent medical attention because it may indicate a blood clot, medically known as thrombophlebitis,” Akintoye warns. He also says one must be concerned if the varicose veins become ulcerous. “Long-term fluid build-up in these tissues may result in ulcer (open wound), and once it gets to that level, the victim must see the doctor without delay. Again, if any of the engorged veins begins to bleed, don’t ignore it,” Akintoye counsels. Other symptoms of varicose veins include weakness, burning, muscle cramps, heaviness and tiredness, itching, numbness, “pins and needles,” as well as Restless Legs Syndrome (a neurological disorder characterised by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them). Obviously, these are conditions that you may not ignore for too long if you don’t want to feel miserable. So, see a doctor before the symptoms become intolerable. Source:punch