Varicose Veins Treatment: Which One Is Right For Me?

Today, various options for varicose veins treatment are available, from self-management to laser treatment for varicose veins. However, many individuals suffering from the symptoms still do not know how to cure varicose veins. This article will walk you through the various treatment options for varicose veins.

Varicose veins are swollen veins you can see on the skin’s surface, especially on your legs. This condition is quite common. A study by the National Institutes of Health shows that about 20% of all adults develop these at some point.

Varicose veins are formed when the valves of the veins become weak, causing venous reflux. Most often, these veins can be identified visually as they are noticeable, unlike regular veins, and appear as blue and green bulges on your legs.

People often confuse varicose veins with spider veins. While both these conditions are caused by poor blood circulation, there is a notable visual difference between the two. While varicose veins are raised and swollen blood vessels prominently visible under the skin, spider veins are thin, small blood vessels that look like a spider web.

So, the cure for varicose veins will slightly differ from spider veins treatment. Let us discuss some of the best remedies for varicose veins once you get a thorough examination by your healthcare provider.

Various Types Of Varicose Veins Treatments

Some of the best treatments for varicose veins are available. Determining the correct choice for you would depend on factors such as your condition’s severity, overall health, and personal preferences.

You must first visit a varicose veins specialist, such as a vascular surgeon, who will assess your symptoms. He may even suggest a diagnostic test such as a color Doppler test to analyze the severity of the venous disorder. Based on the results, he will then recommend possible avenues for treatment.

Some options are laser treatment for varicose veins, while another pain reliever for varicose veins can be wearing compression stockings during the day. The varicose veins laser treatment cost can vary depending on the type of laser surgery you opt for. For example, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser treatment, and radiofrequency ablation are a few of the laser treatments for varicose veins that patients can opt for.

The cure for varicose veins depends on various factors, like the symptoms and the causes of varicose veins. Additionally, suppose you want to skip the laser treatments and know what is the treatment for varicose veins naturally. In that case, you must know that varicose veins will not disappear or shrink naturally. You can control and manage the symptoms and relieve the pain with home remedies and wearing compression stockings.

In the next section, we will mention the remedies to manage the early stages of varicose veins.

What Are the Remedies For Varicose Veins In Early Stages?

Medical compression stockings are an effective method to proactively prevent the condition of someone with a family history of varicose veins. These stockings apply graduated compression to the legs, thus supporting the veins and boosting blood flow back to the heart.

Support stockings (less than 18 mmHg compression) and grade 1 compression (18 – 21 mmHg compression) would be ideal to prevent varicose veins.

For someone who has developed early stages of varicose veins, a higher compression of grade 2 is usually prescribed by the doctor. It is best to consult your doctor and use compression stockings under their guidance.

Varicose Veins Home Treatment

It is important to remember that home remedies alone may not be sufficient to manage your varicose veins. However, when used along with compression therapy, they could help boost blood circulation, ease symptoms, and slow down the condition’s progression.

Some common varicose veins home treatments would include:

• Exercise: Exercise and movement are great ways to boost blood circulation in the legs. It stimulates the calf muscle pump and helps push blood back to the heart. It is also beneficial for your overall cardiovascular fitness. If you have varicose veins, try low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, and cycling to work your calf muscles.
• Dietary changes: Eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight can impact your veins. Include fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods in your diet. Reducing salt intake may also help minimize swelling.
• Avoid tight clothing: Tight clothing can hinder blood circulation. Also, wearing high-heeled shoes can unnecessarily strain your legs and feet, increasing the risk of varicose veins.
• Massage: As an easy home remedy, you could try massaging your legs or the affected area gently to help push the blood up and prevent stagnation. Be cautious while massaging and ensure you don’t press directly onto the affected vein and further the damage. Also, as a cure for varicose veins, if you are wondering how to
• cure varicose veins with vinegar, then as a part of the varicose vein home treatment, you can use undiluted apple cider vinegar. You can topically apply vinegar to the affected area.
• Leg Elevation: Elevating your legs above the level of your heart can give your veins some rest as it reduces the impact of gravity on your blood flow. This can also help reduce swelling.

Varicose Veins Treatment In Ayurveda

Unlike contemporary medical treatments focusing on medicines and surgeries, Ayurveda relies on lifestyle. Getting Ayurvedic treatment for varicose veins is a slow process requiring patience and lifestyle changes.

The most common type of varicose veins treatment in Ayurveda is herbal medications made of herbs like Amalaki, Arjuna, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, etc.

Another groundbreaking discovery in Ayurvedic treatment is the Horse Chestnut Seed Extract, also known as HCSE. This potent extract can be taken orally or applied to the affected area. It has shown promising results in reducing leg pain and improving blood flow.

Pairing the use of HCSE with compression stockings can help with varicose veins as well as provide relief from the pain.

Endovenous Ablation For Varicose Veins

The doctor uses radiofrequency energy or laser to heat and close the diseased veins in this treatment method. Most patients and doctors thus prefer this minimally invasive procedure. The varicose vein laser treatment cost will depend on the severity of the condition and the experience of the doctor who performs the ablation.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is also a minimally invasive treatment method for varicose veins. It involves injecting a particular solution directly into the affected veins. The solution irritates the vein’s lining, causing it to collapse and stick together. Over time, the body absorbs the collapsed vein and gradually fades away.

Surgery

There are various surgeries for varicose veins, the most common being vein stripping. This surgery is only performed for extreme cases of varicose veins. During this surgery, the affected veins are tied shut and removed from the body from the minor cuts made into the skin.

This surgery happens while the patient is under anesthesia, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. After the surgery, the patient has to rest for at least 4 weeks to ensure a full recovery.

What Are The Symptoms Of Varicose Veins?

Here are the common symptoms of varicose veins:

• Dark blue or purple, swollen veins
• Heaviness in the legs
• Swollen feet and ankles
• Burning sensation under the skin
• Frequent muscle cramps
• Dry and itchy skin
• Skin color changes

Additionally, if these symptoms worsen during the hot weather or after standing on your feet for too long, it might be a sign of severe varicose veins. When first experiencing these symptoms, you can wear compression stockings to relieve discomfort and prevent the condition from worsening.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are caused by poor blood circulation. The primary reason varicose veins occur in the legs more than in any other part of the body is that the veins in this part of the body have to work against gravity to carry blood back up to the heart. Our modern lifestyle, which requires prolonged sitting and standing, puts additional strain on the veins, making their job even more challenging.

Common risk factors for varicose veins are:

• Age: With age, our bodies start becoming weaker. Along with our organs, our veins and vessels also become weak and lose elasticity. When the veins don’t function as they should, blood accumulates in the legs and feet, ultimately causing varicose veins.
• Pregnancy: Varicose veins are more common in women than in men. Pregnant women are more at risk due to hormonal changes and the growing uterus that puts pressure on the veins.
• Genetics: Genetics and family history are important in determining whether you will get varicose veins. If your family has a medical history of the condition, you will likely develop it, too.
• Lifestyle: Your diet, the type of clothing you prefer wearing, your weight, and whether you spend most of your time standing or sitting in a day affect how your blood moves in your veins.

Conclusion

Here, we have discussed various treatment options for varicose veins. The ideal varicose veins treatment would depend on the severity of your condition. This guide will make it easier for you to comprehend the treatment options and understand how to cure varicose veins.

If you are in your early stages, wear medical compression stockings to prevent the veins from worsening. While many options are available, the best treatment for varicose veins will be the one recommended by your doctor. Therefore, the cure and remedies for varicose veins can combine laser treatments for varicose veins and compression therapy for pain management.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Treat Varicose Veins At Home?

Simple lifestyle changes like exercising, avoiding sitting or standing for a long time at a stretch, and wearing Compression Stockings for Varicose Veins can help manage varicose veins at home.

Do Varicose Veins Treatment Creams Work?

Varicose vein creams can help by temporarily reducing the appearance of the veins and the pain. However, such creams are not an appropriate long-term solution as they cannot treat the underlying cause of damaged veins and vein valves.