Is Varicose Vein Treatment Permanent?
admin FAQS & Myths

Is Varicose Vein Treatment Permanent?

In India, over 10 million varicose vein cases are reported every year. Varicose vein medical ailment is estimated to affect the legs and feet of nearly 30% of the adult Indians.

Also, most obese people have a tendency to develop one or more varicose veins as they age. Based on verified statistics, women are known to be somewhat more probable of suffering from varicose veins as compared to their male counterparts.

What are Varicose Veins?

In the case of a healthy person, the valves of the veins make the used and de-oxygenated blood flow back to the heart from all body parts. These valves also prevent the blood from staying stagnant at one place or flowing backward in the undesired direction.

But for patients who complain of varicose veins, the valves of the affected veins get damaged and hence restrict the blood flow back to the heart. This disturbs the circulatory system and causes the blood to pool around the impaired veins.

Varicose veins are those swollen and enlarged veins that are often seen bulging out from the skin surface of the legs. These twisted veins are bluish-purple in colour and are truly an ugly sight. The varicose vein patients often complain of pain, itching, burning, and mild cramping in the affected area.

You should never ignore any visible signs of varicose veins. Although not a very serious disorder, varicose veins may not require immediate treatment but genuine medical aid is vital to prevent the condition from getting worse.

In some critical scenarios, the delays in treating the varicose veins can further lead to other several other acute health hazards like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) i.e. clots in the superficial veins, acute Venous Ulcers, and even Chronic Venous Insufficiency.

Why do Varicose Veins Re-appear?

By treating the varicose veins, patients not only get relief from the constant pain, and irritation, but also get rid of the unappealing sight of the varicose veins on their legs and feet.

The traditional treatment procedure of vein surgery, where the affected veins were stripped off, is definitely less efficient and has higher chances of making the varicose veins re-appear.

In the new era, with the invention of laser treatments for varicose veins, the swollen varicose veins are accurately identified with the help of the duplex ultrasound procedure and these are then permanently closed. This forces the body to re-route the blood to other neighbouring veins.

Although the advanced laser treatment massively reduces the chances of varicose veins coming back, it does not guarantee a permanent cure. In medical terms, varicose vein is a chronic ailment and the varicose veins may redevelop in the future for the patients who were successfully treated in the past.

A patient who has once had varicose veins always remains at high risk of redeveloping them. It is not usually the same vein, but different veins may get affected by the malfunctioning valves, thus causing the varicose veins to reoccur.

Some people are genetically more probable to develop varicose veins but all patients can reduce their chances of re-growing varicose veins by improving their lifestyle. Doing mild exercises every day, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a BMI (Body Mass Index) score under 25, is known to reduce the risk of varicose veins.

Also, you must avoid sitting or standing for long periods at a stretch as this can cause extreme pressure on your veins and breakdown the valves. In an unfortunate incidence of the varicose veins recurring for you, you can still get them eliminated by the painless endovenous laser treatment.

This laser treatment is minimally invasive and absolutely painless. It leaves no cuts or scar marks on the patient’s body and has quick recovery time. Except for a few critical cases, patients are generally discharged on the same day. They can go back home and resume their daily activities without any difficulties or outside support.

The endovenous laser treatment procedure has very little post-operative care and the patients can even undertake long flights without the fear of DVT or blood clots that may cause a medical emergency. To a few patients, the vascular surgeon may suggest the use of compression stockings for a few days after the laser treatment.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala, MD in Vascular Interventional Radiology, is a distinguished doctor offering his medical services at Avis Hospitals, Hyderabad. With over 24 years of experience and a record of treating 4000+ varicose vein patients every year, Dr. Rajah V Koppala is not only renowned but also trusted for his knowledge and medical practice.

Schedule your appointment for the medical check-up of your varicose veins and its painless endovenous laser treatment today from Dr. Rajah V Koppala today!

Misconceptions about Varicose Veins
admin FAQS & Myths

A Look at the Common Misconceptions Surrounding Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are not uncommon. Every 1 in 4 adults suffers from varicose veins at some point in their lifetime. Awareness about the symptoms of varicose veins can lead to timely diagnosis and effective treatment, thus preventing a multitude of other venous disorders that have a high probability of occurrence in cases where the treatment for varicose veins is delayed.

In this blog today, we shall be addressing some of the most common misconceptions about varicose veins. We will burst all myths and share some relevant facts, stay with us till the end.

  1. Varicose veins are the same as spider veins – Although both varicose veins and spider veins are venous disorders that occur due to faulty valves of the veins and restrict the movement of the deoxygenated blood back to the heart, these are not the synonyms for the same medical condition.

    Spider veins appear in the form of web-like structures and may occur anywhere on the body including the face and the chest. Varicose veins usually form on the legs and result in bluish-purple swollen veins that ache and cause discomfort. Spider veins are much less likely to result in any serious complication but varicose veins must be treated to prevent critical venous disorders.

  2. Varicose veins are only a cosmetic issue – Varicose veins are ugly. They are not a pleasant sight but are definitely more than just a cosmetic annoyance. Varicose veins signal towards an underlying issue in the movement of the deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the legs.

    Resulting in pooling of blood which eventually causes extreme swelling, irritation, pain, and discomfort, varicose veins spoil the quality of life and may even lead to other venous disorders such as active venous ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency, DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), and the life-threatening disease pulmonary-embolism.

  3. Varicose veins cannot be prevented – In a few cases, varicose veins are genetic and may occur due to the patient’s personal or family history of blood clots, varicose veins, or DVT. But in most cases, varicose veins occur to people who are overweight, consume junk food with high-fat percentage, do not have an exercise routine, have a sedentary lifestyle or a job that requires them to stand or sit in the same position for extended durations.

    Patients who are aware of their family history of venous disorders can prevent varicose veins by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, giving up on coffee, alcohol, and smoking, performing mild to moderate exercise every day, ensuring to change your posture once a while, and taking care of your overall health.

  4. Varicose veins do not affect the young – Most people assume that varicose veins only affects the elderly, but this is not true. Although the aged people are more probable of suffering from varicose veins, it can occur to the people of any age group, especially to those who do not perform any physical activity.

    Many young men and women have already been reported to be suffering from varicose veins. You can reduce the likelihood of varicose veins by performing one or the other form of exercise that is known to regulate the blood flow and prevent its pooling.

  5. Varicose veins are nothing to worry about – Varicose veins are not a medical emergency but can turn into one if you ignore the symptoms and delay the medical check-up or treatment. In the beginning, varicose veins may not even have severe symptoms but these do get worse with time.

    Delay or a total lack of treatment can exaggerate the symptoms. Blood pooling may make the affected area to swell and ache. The symptoms may include itching, enlarged veins bulging out from the skin surface, and discomfort. With time, these symptoms tend to get worse and you may develop ulcers or open sores around the ankle. Blood pooling can even lead to blood clots in the deep veins which can travel to other body parts and affect the heart, brain, and lungs.

  6. Pregnancy causes varicose veins – Pregnancy is not a cause of varicose veins but the hormonal changes, weight gain, and increased blood volume before childbirth may hinder the movement of blood from the legs to the heart.

    A few women develop varicose veins during pregnancy but these are temporary and tend to go away in 3 to 4 months after delivery. However, if you notice them getting worse after childbirth, do not delay seeking medical advice from a venous expert.

  7. Varicose veins require surgical treatment – This was true until a few years ago when surgical procedures like vein litigation and sclerotherapy were the only feasible methods to remove varicose veins. But today, interventional radiologists are efficiently able to close off the affected veins in a minimal and painless laser procedure.

    The endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins is a quick procedure with zero downtime. This process does not require general anaesthesia and can successfully treat all varicose veins in a single sitting. The laser treatment is popular for being the no-cut, no-stitch, and no-scar method that encourages the patient to resume everyday activities from the very next day of the treatment.

    It is performed under the influence of local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure. The patient need not get admitted or take many leaves from the job. Performed with accurate monitoring from a duplex ultrasound scan, a thin catheter along with a laser fibre is inserted into the affected area. This laser fibre helps close off the damaged veins and the body re-routes the blood to the neighbouring veins.

If you are eager to get your varicose veins treated in a painless and cost-effective non-surgical method, book an appointment with Avis Vascular Centre. It is a renowned medical institute with world-class amenities and qualified venous experts. Led by the distinguished vascular surgeon and experienced interventional radiologist Dr. Rajah V Koppala, Avis Vascular Centre is your one-stop medical institution for top-rated treatment of varicose veins and related venous disorders.

Venous Insufficiency Ulcers
admin Vascular Diseases

Venous Insufficiency Ulcers

Due to genetic factors and a poor lifestyle that is characterized by an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, some people develop varicose veins in their legs and feet. The one-way valves of these veins do not function as desired and hinder the flow of the deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

As the blood isn’t efficiently pumped back to the heart, excessive blood remains pooled in the varicose veins and leads to humungous pressure in the affected area. This medical condition is referred to as venous insufficiency.

The added pressure forces the walls of the varicose veins to stretch which causes the protein in the blood cells to reach the subcutaneous tissues. Further, due to the lack of oxygen and nutrients, these tissues eventually break down and result in ulceration.

Chronic venous insufficiency in most cases leads to venous ulcers that are open wounds or sores visible on the surface of the skin on the legs and feet. These require immediate medical assistance and are extremely slow to heal.

Causes

Varicose veins and most other venous disorders can be attributed to genetic reasons apart from a few other conditions. Following are the most prevalent risk factors for venous insufficiency and leg ulcers:

  1. Being female
  2. Old age
  3. Being tall
  4. Varicose veins
  5. History of blood clots in deep veins (DVT)
  6. Family history of venous disorders
  7. Blockage of lymph vessels
  8. Pregnancy
  9. Smoking
  10. Sitting or standing for long durations
  11. Injury to the leg, burns or muscle damage

Early Signs of Venous Insufficiency

Like most other medical conditions, our body gives us numerous hints about venous insufficiency as well. It is vital for us to be aware and keep an eye for the below-mentioned symptoms :

  1. The skin changes in the affected area accompanied by itching. This medical condition is also referred to as Stasis Dermatitis.
  2. The skin may also turn hard and brown or dark red in colour
  3. Pain and swelling in the leg along with a feeling of heaviness
  4. Tingling sensation in the damaged area

Symptoms of Venous Ulcers

If we fail to get ourselves treated after the early signs of venous insufficiency, the condition may worsen and lead to active venous ulcers. Below mentioned are the easiest to recognize symptoms of leg ulceration:

  1. Shallow sore with a red base that may be covered with a yellow tissue
  2. Uneven borders of the sore
  3. Pain in the leg
  4. Surrounding skin turns shiny, tight, warm, and also discoloured
  5. Infected sores may have a bad odour and pus drain from the wound

Wound Care

If you have developed leg ulcers, it is essential for you to take proper care as the open sore may get infected and lead to many other severe medical complications. We have made a to-do list, please make a note of the below tips:

  1. You must keep the wound clean and bandaged to prevent getting infected.
  2. You must change the dressing frequently. Always ensure to clean the wound before doing the dressing.
  3. Dressing and skin around the wound must always be kept dry.
  4. Always keep the skin around the wound moisturized to reduce itching and irritation
  5. Ask your venous expert if you must wear compression stockings above your dressing and/or bandage

Prevention

There are some easy tips and tricks to prevent varicose veins, venous insufficiency, and related disorders of the veins. Simply note down the below points and incorporate them in your day to day life:

  1. Eat healthy food
  2. Exercise everyday
  3. Quit smoking
  4. Blood sugar control for diabetic patients
  5. Plenty of sleep
  6. Regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels
  7. Weight loss for obese or overweight people

Even if you have already been diagnosed with venous insufficiency, you can still reduce the chances of venous ulcers by following the below tips:

  1. Wear compression stockings as they are known to improve the blood flow in the affected area. They offer relief from the leg pains, help reduce the swelling and also assist with healing.
  2. As frequently as possible, place your feet above the level of your heart. Lie down on the bed and use one or more pillows to lift your feet higher. This will make it easier for the blood to move back to the heart and prevent blood pooling
  3. Ensure to eat a nutritious diet and perform moderate and low impact exercises every day.
  4. Ensure to take the medicines as prescribed by your medical practitioner.

Conclusion

Varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, leg ulcers, and other venous disorders have become fairly common due to the sedentary lifestyle of most people in urban cities. Although not serious, all venous medical conditions must be treated in a priority by trusted and reliable vascular specialists only.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is a qualified and internationally trained vascular expert who specializes in the minimally invasive and painless laser treatment of varicose veins. At Avis Hospitals, we have the latest equipment and all modern amenities in-house for efficient treatment by the endovenous laser ablation technique.

If you or anyone in your family is suffering from vascular medical conditions, do not delay in scheduling a consultation with the renowned interventional radiologist Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals. The laser treatment is suitable for people of all ages and we ensure quick recovery with minimal post-operative care. Book an appointment today!

Can Varicose Veins affected legs be brought back to normal?
admin FAQS & Myths

Can Varicose Veins affected legs be brought back to normal?

What are varicose veins?

Veins are the blood vessels that are responsible for carrying the de-oxygenated blood back from the body parts to the heart. The blood is also pumped back to the heart from the legs and feet of the human body, strongly against the gravitational force of the Earth.

In a few patients, the valves of the leg and feet veins begin to dysfunction due to the patient’s growing age or a poor lifestyle and this leads to the pooling of blood. The blood remains collected in the veins and makes the patient’s legs feel heavy and irritated. In a few rare cases, the patient may feel constant pain and suffer from the inability to stand or walk.

These veins, called the Varicose Veins are often swollen or enlarged in size, turn dark purple in colour, and are clearly visible right under the skin even with a naked eye. Due to the lack of medical awareness in India, most patients suffering from Varicose Veins often remain uninformed about their medical condition until it becomes serious.

What Causes Varicose Veins?

There are more than a few reasons that lead to varicose veins, let us address the most common ones below:

  1. Lack of physical activity – A poor lifestyle accompanied with a total lack of exercise, immobility due to a desk job, and insufficient body movements, all these reasons cause obesity which in turn causes excessive pressure on the leg veins and is known to be the most prominent cause of varicose veins
  2. Improper diet –The absence of a balanced diet and increased consumption of junk food where meals have greater portions of saturated fat plus carbohydrates and lower quantities of fiber and protein result in higher body cholesterol levels and restrict blood flow in legs and feet.

  3. Uncomfortable footwear – Wearing high heels for longer durations, unfitting footwear, shoes with a poor or hard sole, or standing and sitting in the same position for extended durations is known to hamper the blood flow and thus cause the blood the pool in the veins.

  4. Birth Control Pills – Frequent intake of birth control on contraceptive pills has been proven to disrupt the blood flow in the blood vessels especially those in the legs and feet. The condition gets worse for women during menstruation and pregnancy. This may cause varicose veins and leg ulcers.

  5. Other Reasons –  Heredity, old age, weakened or damaged veins, blood clots or DVT are the other leading causes of varicose veins. Regularly exercising the calf muscles is known to improve the condition for patients with mild to medium symptoms.

Can Varicose Veins be brought back to normal?

Absolutely YES. In this modern era with huge advancements in medical technology, the varicose veins can totally be cured and brought back to normal for patients with even the most critical cases. There are multiple treatment options and the doctor chooses the most appropriate one only after seeing the patient’s condition and medical history.

Doctors first conduct the physical examination of the patient’s varicose veins while he/she is sitting or standing. They ensure to precisely check for the painful varicose veins and at times may require an ultrasound before advising the available treatment options. In the ultrasound, the blood flow in the affected veins is measured with the help of high-frequency waves that help the doctor to evaluate the severity of the issue.

There are some surgical treatments like sclerotherapy and radiofrequency ablation that are painful but have a fair success rate. The best treatment is Endovenous Laser Treatment which is minimally invasive and there are no big cuts made on the patient’s legs. In most cases, the patients can also go back home the same day.

Can Varicose Veins be cured at Avis Hospitals?

Most definitely. If you have varicose veins and are in deep pain, do not delay your treatment any longer. Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals has years of experience and a huge array of happy patients who are totally satisfied with his advice, treatment procedures and the post-operative care as well.

Renowned as the leading vascular surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr. Rajah V Koppala is undoubtedly the best doctor for your all your concerns relating to varicose veins. Schedule an appointment today and get cured in no time!

How Vein Specialists Classify Venous Diseases
admin FAQS & Myths

How Vein Specialists Classify Venous Diseases

Most people, especially women who are over 50 years of age often complain of vein issues in legs and feet. Venous diseases take different shapes and forms in different patients. While some may suffer from invisible yet painful venous insufficiency symptoms, a few others may have signs of painless but ugly looking varicose veins.

No matter the form, venous diseases not only point towards a serious health condition but are also highly progressive in nature which means that the patient’s condition may worsen in the absence of an effective treatment.

As all forms of venous diseases have more or less the same identical signs and symptoms, the doctors found it difficult to differentiate between the various stages and thus CEAP, the comprehensive classification system was used to clearly define distinctive boundaries between the various stages.

CEAP refers to the following :

  •   Clinical observation – What does the affected vein look like?
  •   Etiology – Is the venous disease inherited or there is some other underlying cause?
  •   Anatomy – Which veins are affected?
  •   Pathophysiology – What is the direction of blood flow (normal or abnormal)? Also, is the blood flow restricted ?

As per CEAP, the following is the official classification of venous insufficiency in 7 different stages, listed in increasing levels of severity:

  1. C0 : Asymptomatic : In this stage, there are no signs and symptoms of venous diseases and all veins are working normally. The veins are efficiently able to return the blood from the legs and the feet veins back to the heart.

     

  2. C1 : Spider Veins : Also called telangiectasia or reticular veins, these veins appear to be red, blue or purple in color and are tangled with one another, hence the names spider veins. These veins rise to the skin surface on the legs, upper thighs and around the ankles and hint towards underlying varicose veins.

     

  3. C2 : Varicose Veins : This is a condition where the valves of the leg and feet veins malfunction leading to severe difficulty in pumping the blood back to the heart. These veins force the blood to pool thus causing the patients to develop a heavy feeling and tiredness in the legs. Veins become enlarged and patients may complain of pain, cramps, itching or a burning sensation in the affected area.

     

  4. C3 : Edema : In this stage of venous insufficiency, there develops a prominently visible swelling in the legs around the affected veins. While daily use of compression stockings may offer extended support to the veins, it is vital to address the underlying cause of the symptoms for long term relief or the condition is bound to get worse over time.

     

  5. C4 : Skin Changes : By this stage of the venous disease, the skin around the affected veins tends to change its color, texture, and the overall look and feel. It some cases, patients have reported skin discoloration and eczema as well. 

     

  6. C5 : Healed venous ulcer : Excessive pressure on the varicose veins and highly restricted blood flow may cause the leg tissues to die thus forming an open ulcer. This is not a very serious condition as the ulcer generally heals on its own as soon as the blood flow is rectified and brought back to normal.

     

  7. C6 : Active venous ulcer : This is the final and the most severe stage of venous insufficiency. Although found in less than 1% of the total reported cases of venous diseases, this is a serious health hazard. Prolonged therapy is needed for an effective cure of this condition. Endovenous laser treatment with extended compression therapy sessions may be suggested for quick wound healing.

Treatments

Venous diseases hampers the patient’s overall quality of life. Owing to its progressive nature, a vein issue has a high tendency of getting worse with growing age. It is important to be able to differentiate between the various stages of venous insufficiency for pinpoint diagnosis and timely treatment.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals has international medical certifications and years of extensive experience in offering the most advanced treatments for the various different stages of venous insufficiency.

He always analyses each patient’s unique symptoms and thoroughly goes through his/her medical history before advising medications or therapies. With the most technologically advanced medical care provisions of non-invasive treatments like laser ablation for venous diseases, Avis Hospitals is the most reliable medical centre for any vein diseases. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rajah V Koppala today, visit : http://www.avishospitals.com/