What are varicose veins?
Veins are blood vessels that normally carry blood from the foot and leg upwards, back to the heart. Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are enlarged veins that can appear in blue, red, or flesh-colored. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They can be swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are often found on the thighs, backs of the calves, or the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins can form around the vagina and buttocks.
Varicose veins can vary in size from quite small (2-3mm across) to very large (2-3cms across). Very small veins are called "thread veins" or "spider veins". Spider veins are like varicose veins but smaller. They also are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spider-webs with their short, jagged lines. They can be found on the legs and face and can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.
What causes varicose veins and spider veins?
Varicose veins can be caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins. The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body through the arteries. Veins then carry the blood from the body back to the heart. As your leg muscles squeeze, they push blood back to the heart from your lower body against the flow of gravity. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps to prevent blood from flowing backwards as it moves up your legs. If the valves become weak, blood can leak back into the veins and collect there. (This problem is called venous insufficiency.) When backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they can become varicose.
Spider veins can be caused by the backup of blood. They can also be caused by hormone changes, exposure to the sun, and injuries.
Veins that reflux ( i.e. an abnormal backward flow of body fluids ) are said to be incompetent or to have incompetent valves. Over time this leads to a higher pressure in the veins and they gradually become swollen and varicose, although this can take many years. Unfortunately, the faults in the valves cannot be cured by medical science except through a ground breaking medication called PHYTO-MEDECINE, which works with the help of bio-energy or stem cells of plants and only needs to be applied tropically has been invented, patented and registered under two complimentary companies, under one roof called Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd & OPTM Health Care (P) Ltd.
What are the signs of varicose veins?
Varicose veins can often be seen on the skin. Some other common symptoms of varicose veins in the legs include:
• Aching pain that may get worse after sitting or standing for a long time
• Throbbing or cramping
• Heaviness
• Swelling
• Rash that’s itchy or irritated
• Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
• Restless legs
• Changes in skin color-the skin over the affected area.
Are varicose veins and spider veins dangerous?
Spider veins rarely are a serious health problem, but they can cause uncomfortable feelings in the legs. If there are symptoms from spider veins, most often they will be itching or burning. Less often, spider veins can be a sign of blood backup deeper inside that you can’t see on the skin.
In some cases, varicose veins can lead to more serious health problems. These include:
• Sores or skin ulcers due to chronic (long-term) backing up of blood. These sores or ulcers are painful and hard to heal. Sometimes they cannot heal until the backward blood flow in the vein is repaired.
• Bleeding. The skin over the veins becomes thin and easily injured. When an injury occurs, there can be significant blood loss.
• Superficial thrombophlebitis (throm-bo-fli-BYT-uhs), which is a blood clot that forms in a vein just below the skin. Symptoms include skin redness; a firm, tender, warm vein; and sometimes pain and swelling.
• Deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a deeper vein. It can cause a “pulling” feeling in the calf, pain, warmth, redness, and swelling. However, sometimes it causes no significant symptoms. If the blood clot travels to the lungs, it can be fatal.
• Chronic venous insufficiency - the development of brown dis-colouration of the skin at the ankle (pigmentation), varicose eczema and thickening in the tissues around varicose veins (liposclerosis) are signs that more extensive tissue damage is occurring.
Can I live without my varicose veins?
No. The veins, tissues and the arteries which are present in our body are there for a purpose. Its proper functioning is responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells, as well as the removal of carbon dioxide and waste products, maintenance of optimum pH, and the mobility of the elements, proteins and cells of the immune system. If this is removed then the surrounding areas will not be able to operate normally and slowly will lose its strength and dry up your muscles and other parts round the affected area.
In some situations when varicose veins are present and the deep veins in the leg are blocked. This may make it unsafe to have superficial varicose veins removed. Your surgeon will have checked for this preoperatively.
What factors increase my risk of varicose veins and spider veins?
Many factors increase a person's chances of developing varicose or spider veins. These include:
• Increasing age. As you get older, the valves in your veins may weaken and not work as well.
• Medical history. Being born with weak vein valves increases your risk. Having family members with vein problems also increases your risk. About half of all people who have varicose veins have a family member who has them too.
• Hormonal changes. These occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Taking birth control pills and other medicines containing estrogen and progesterone also may contribute to the forming of varicose or spider veins.
• Pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body. This can cause veins to enlarge. The growing uterus also puts pressure on the veins. Varicose veins usually improve within 3 months after delivery. More varicose veins and spider veins usually appear with each additional pregnancy.
• Obesity. Being overweight or obese can put extra pressure on your veins. This can lead to varicose veins.
• Lack of movement. Sitting or standing for a long time may force your veins to work harder to pump blood to your heart. This may be a bigger problem if you sit with your legs bent or crossed.
• Sun exposure. This can cause spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person.
• Gender- Women are at greater risk than men, probably because the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone cause blood vessels to relax, thus separating the valves so that they don't meet to block the back flow of blood.
• Birth-control pills, estrogen treatments, and pregnancy raise a woman's level of sex hormones, putting her at greater risk of developing varicose veins.
How can I prevent varicose veins and spider veins?
Not all varicose and spider veins can be prevented. But, there are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting new varicose and spider veins. These same things can help ease discomfort from the ones you already have:
• Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun and to limit spider veins on the face.
• Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation, and vein strength. Focus on exercises that work your legs, such as walking or running.
• Control your weight to avoid placing too much pressure on your legs.
• Don’t cross your legs for long times when sitting. It’s possible to injure your legs that way, and even a minor injury can increase the risk of varicose veins.
• Elevate your legs when resting as much as possible.
• Don’t stand or sit for long periods of time. If you must stand for a long time, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. If you must sit for long periods of time, stand up and move around or take a short walk every 30 minutes.
• Avoid wearing high heels for long periods of time. Lower-heeled shoes can help tone your calf muscles to help blood move through your veins.
• Eat a low-salt diet rich in high-fiber foods. Eating fiber reduces the chances of constipation, which can contribute to varicose veins. High-fiber foods include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, like bran. Eating less salt can help with the swelling that comes with varicose veins.
DIAGNOSIS :- The simplest test uses only a blood pressure cuff, Doppler ultrasound, duplex, scanning, magnetic resonance venography.
MEDICAL TREATMENT:-
1. Clerothuapy
2. Lasers
EVLT (Endovenous Laser Therapy) - this is a newer method of treating the source of the varicose veins in the groin or behind the knee (sapheno-femoral and saphenopopliteal junctions). It is also a replacement for the stripping part of the operation, but frequently does not deal with all of the visible varicose veins. Its use is increasing. Not a complete cure and has its after effects along with serious health hazards.
3. Surgery
Surgery - this is still the most common form of treatment for varicose veins and is a very effective way of completely removing veins. But with permanent or prolonged side-effects, giving rise to other more serious symptoms. The success rate is quite low.
• Avulsion
• Stripping
• Endorscular laser therapy
• Radio frequency ablation
RFA (RadioFrequency Ablation) - this is also a newer method of treating the source of the varicose veins. It is also a replacement for the stripping part of the operation and similarly does not always deal with all of the varicose veins. Not a prolonged effect and is more harmful than the above two. May give rise to skin and tissue problems.
• Litigation
• Ambulatory phlebectomy
• Cryosurgery- A cryoprobe is passed down the long saphenous vein following saphenofemoral ligation. Then the probe is cooled with NO2or CO2 to a temperature of -850. The vein freezes to the probe and can be retrogradely stripped after 5 sec of freezing.It is a variant of Stripping. The only point of this technique is to avoid a distal incision to remove the stripper.[16]
• Injection sclerotherapy - this is used in all types of varicose veins and a microinjection technique may be used for thread veins. It does not seem as effective as other techniques for larger varicose veins and has the lowest success rate.
• Compression stockings – this compresses the veins more and stops normal blood-flow to the other areas of the effected veins. It is essential that the correct grade of stocking is used after proper fitting. Many patients find it effective for symptoms although they may be inconvenient particularly in warm weather and is harmful for the body.
However laser & surgery don’t offer satisfying result as the vein again becomes varicose or we can say problem relapses over a period of 12-14 months.
The Only Treatment Available :
In OPTM Health Care, we use live enzymes of plant cells to recover
• They protrude or bulge from under the skin that feels ropey.
• The aches, heaviness & itchiness .
• The swelling of the muscles and any stiffness.
• Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
• Restless legs
• Changes in skin color-the skin over the affected area.
All these are done without any oral medication, surgery, injections, steroids or any harmful chemicals. The Science behind it are, live-enzymes of plant cells, which when in-contact with human cells have the strength to re-grow or heal human body parts. This is simply done using patented tropical applications, ( i.e. ointments, oils, creams, etc.) manufactured under the well-established and internationally accredited company called Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd.
Varco, which is the world’s first and only medication which can heal you from varicose vein is made and patented by Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd and can show you results over your medical reports.
Will treatment remove all of my varicose veins?
Yes. This is the only treatment available which can erase every visible varicose vein, but most patients are satisfied with the improvement that can be gained by undergoing treatment.
Veins are blood vessels that normally carry blood from the foot and leg upwards, back to the heart. Varicose (VAR-i-kos) veins are enlarged veins that can appear in blue, red, or flesh-colored. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They can be swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are often found on the thighs, backs of the calves, or the inside of the leg. During pregnancy, varicose veins can form around the vagina and buttocks.
Varicose veins can vary in size from quite small (2-3mm across) to very large (2-3cms across). Very small veins are called "thread veins" or "spider veins". Spider veins are like varicose veins but smaller. They also are closer to the surface of the skin than varicose veins. Often, they are red or blue. They can look like tree branches or spider-webs with their short, jagged lines. They can be found on the legs and face and can cover either a very small or very large area of skin.
What causes varicose veins and spider veins?
Varicose veins can be caused by weak or damaged valves in the veins. The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body through the arteries. Veins then carry the blood from the body back to the heart. As your leg muscles squeeze, they push blood back to the heart from your lower body against the flow of gravity. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps to prevent blood from flowing backwards as it moves up your legs. If the valves become weak, blood can leak back into the veins and collect there. (This problem is called venous insufficiency.) When backed-up blood makes the veins bigger, they can become varicose.
Spider veins can be caused by the backup of blood. They can also be caused by hormone changes, exposure to the sun, and injuries.
Veins that reflux ( i.e. an abnormal backward flow of body fluids ) are said to be incompetent or to have incompetent valves. Over time this leads to a higher pressure in the veins and they gradually become swollen and varicose, although this can take many years. Unfortunately, the faults in the valves cannot be cured by medical science except through a ground breaking medication called PHYTO-MEDECINE, which works with the help of bio-energy or stem cells of plants and only needs to be applied tropically has been invented, patented and registered under two complimentary companies, under one roof called Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd & OPTM Health Care (P) Ltd.
What are the signs of varicose veins?
Varicose veins can often be seen on the skin. Some other common symptoms of varicose veins in the legs include:
• Aching pain that may get worse after sitting or standing for a long time
• Throbbing or cramping
• Heaviness
• Swelling
• Rash that’s itchy or irritated
• Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
• Restless legs
• Changes in skin color-the skin over the affected area.
Are varicose veins and spider veins dangerous?
Spider veins rarely are a serious health problem, but they can cause uncomfortable feelings in the legs. If there are symptoms from spider veins, most often they will be itching or burning. Less often, spider veins can be a sign of blood backup deeper inside that you can’t see on the skin.
In some cases, varicose veins can lead to more serious health problems. These include:
• Sores or skin ulcers due to chronic (long-term) backing up of blood. These sores or ulcers are painful and hard to heal. Sometimes they cannot heal until the backward blood flow in the vein is repaired.
• Bleeding. The skin over the veins becomes thin and easily injured. When an injury occurs, there can be significant blood loss.
• Superficial thrombophlebitis (throm-bo-fli-BYT-uhs), which is a blood clot that forms in a vein just below the skin. Symptoms include skin redness; a firm, tender, warm vein; and sometimes pain and swelling.
• Deep vein thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a deeper vein. It can cause a “pulling” feeling in the calf, pain, warmth, redness, and swelling. However, sometimes it causes no significant symptoms. If the blood clot travels to the lungs, it can be fatal.
• Chronic venous insufficiency - the development of brown dis-colouration of the skin at the ankle (pigmentation), varicose eczema and thickening in the tissues around varicose veins (liposclerosis) are signs that more extensive tissue damage is occurring.
Can I live without my varicose veins?
No. The veins, tissues and the arteries which are present in our body are there for a purpose. Its proper functioning is responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells, as well as the removal of carbon dioxide and waste products, maintenance of optimum pH, and the mobility of the elements, proteins and cells of the immune system. If this is removed then the surrounding areas will not be able to operate normally and slowly will lose its strength and dry up your muscles and other parts round the affected area.
In some situations when varicose veins are present and the deep veins in the leg are blocked. This may make it unsafe to have superficial varicose veins removed. Your surgeon will have checked for this preoperatively.
What factors increase my risk of varicose veins and spider veins?
Many factors increase a person's chances of developing varicose or spider veins. These include:
• Increasing age. As you get older, the valves in your veins may weaken and not work as well.
• Medical history. Being born with weak vein valves increases your risk. Having family members with vein problems also increases your risk. About half of all people who have varicose veins have a family member who has them too.
• Hormonal changes. These occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Taking birth control pills and other medicines containing estrogen and progesterone also may contribute to the forming of varicose or spider veins.
• Pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body. This can cause veins to enlarge. The growing uterus also puts pressure on the veins. Varicose veins usually improve within 3 months after delivery. More varicose veins and spider veins usually appear with each additional pregnancy.
• Obesity. Being overweight or obese can put extra pressure on your veins. This can lead to varicose veins.
• Lack of movement. Sitting or standing for a long time may force your veins to work harder to pump blood to your heart. This may be a bigger problem if you sit with your legs bent or crossed.
• Sun exposure. This can cause spider veins on the cheeks or nose of a fair-skinned person.
• Gender- Women are at greater risk than men, probably because the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone cause blood vessels to relax, thus separating the valves so that they don't meet to block the back flow of blood.
• Birth-control pills, estrogen treatments, and pregnancy raise a woman's level of sex hormones, putting her at greater risk of developing varicose veins.
How can I prevent varicose veins and spider veins?
Not all varicose and spider veins can be prevented. But, there are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting new varicose and spider veins. These same things can help ease discomfort from the ones you already have:
• Wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun and to limit spider veins on the face.
• Exercise regularly to improve your leg strength, circulation, and vein strength. Focus on exercises that work your legs, such as walking or running.
• Control your weight to avoid placing too much pressure on your legs.
• Don’t cross your legs for long times when sitting. It’s possible to injure your legs that way, and even a minor injury can increase the risk of varicose veins.
• Elevate your legs when resting as much as possible.
• Don’t stand or sit for long periods of time. If you must stand for a long time, shift your weight from one leg to the other every few minutes. If you must sit for long periods of time, stand up and move around or take a short walk every 30 minutes.
• Avoid wearing high heels for long periods of time. Lower-heeled shoes can help tone your calf muscles to help blood move through your veins.
• Eat a low-salt diet rich in high-fiber foods. Eating fiber reduces the chances of constipation, which can contribute to varicose veins. High-fiber foods include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, like bran. Eating less salt can help with the swelling that comes with varicose veins.
DIAGNOSIS :- The simplest test uses only a blood pressure cuff, Doppler ultrasound, duplex, scanning, magnetic resonance venography.
MEDICAL TREATMENT:-
1. Clerothuapy
2. Lasers
EVLT (Endovenous Laser Therapy) - this is a newer method of treating the source of the varicose veins in the groin or behind the knee (sapheno-femoral and saphenopopliteal junctions). It is also a replacement for the stripping part of the operation, but frequently does not deal with all of the visible varicose veins. Its use is increasing. Not a complete cure and has its after effects along with serious health hazards.
3. Surgery
Surgery - this is still the most common form of treatment for varicose veins and is a very effective way of completely removing veins. But with permanent or prolonged side-effects, giving rise to other more serious symptoms. The success rate is quite low.
• Avulsion
• Stripping
• Endorscular laser therapy
• Radio frequency ablation
RFA (RadioFrequency Ablation) - this is also a newer method of treating the source of the varicose veins. It is also a replacement for the stripping part of the operation and similarly does not always deal with all of the varicose veins. Not a prolonged effect and is more harmful than the above two. May give rise to skin and tissue problems.
• Litigation
• Ambulatory phlebectomy
• Cryosurgery- A cryoprobe is passed down the long saphenous vein following saphenofemoral ligation. Then the probe is cooled with NO2or CO2 to a temperature of -850. The vein freezes to the probe and can be retrogradely stripped after 5 sec of freezing.It is a variant of Stripping. The only point of this technique is to avoid a distal incision to remove the stripper.[16]
• Injection sclerotherapy - this is used in all types of varicose veins and a microinjection technique may be used for thread veins. It does not seem as effective as other techniques for larger varicose veins and has the lowest success rate.
• Compression stockings – this compresses the veins more and stops normal blood-flow to the other areas of the effected veins. It is essential that the correct grade of stocking is used after proper fitting. Many patients find it effective for symptoms although they may be inconvenient particularly in warm weather and is harmful for the body.
However laser & surgery don’t offer satisfying result as the vein again becomes varicose or we can say problem relapses over a period of 12-14 months.
The Only Treatment Available :
In OPTM Health Care, we use live enzymes of plant cells to recover
• They protrude or bulge from under the skin that feels ropey.
• The aches, heaviness & itchiness .
• The swelling of the muscles and any stiffness.
• Darkening of the skin (in severe cases)
• Restless legs
• Changes in skin color-the skin over the affected area.
All these are done without any oral medication, surgery, injections, steroids or any harmful chemicals. The Science behind it are, live-enzymes of plant cells, which when in-contact with human cells have the strength to re-grow or heal human body parts. This is simply done using patented tropical applications, ( i.e. ointments, oils, creams, etc.) manufactured under the well-established and internationally accredited company called Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd.
Varco, which is the world’s first and only medication which can heal you from varicose vein is made and patented by Ag Herbs Singapore Pte.Ltd and can show you results over your medical reports.
Will treatment remove all of my varicose veins?
Yes. This is the only treatment available which can erase every visible varicose vein, but most patients are satisfied with the improvement that can be gained by undergoing treatment.
