Getting Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins? Read This First!

If you have varicose veins and have decided to get them removed through the painless and minimally invasive endovenous laser ablation treatment procedure, it is best to know the preparations that you must do before undergoing the procedure and the steps that you must follow after the treatment process as well.

In this blog, we will recommend the best practices that will help you get optimal results from the varicose vein painless laser treatment and also share post-treatment protocols that will not only assist in faster recovery but also ensure the least chances of varicose vein recurrence. Stay with us till the end.

Preparations before the Treatment

During the physical examination in your consultation visit, if the vein specialist suspects that you have varicose veins, he/she will recommend a few examination checks to confirm the presence of varicose veins and check for their exact count and precise location.

The doctor will also ask for your medical history and check if you consume any blood thinners which will probably have to be stopped a few days before the laser treatment of varicose veins.

Before the endovenous laser treatment process, you must be hydrated so it is a good idea to drink plenty of fluids especially water. It is advised that you wear loose-fitting clothes to the hospital on the day of the procedure and carry your compression stockings along.

After the preliminary examination, the vein specialist will use injection for local anaesthesia in the affected area. You will remain awake during the procedure but not feel any pain or discomfort in the area that is being treated. As it might be a little tough for you to drive back home, it is advised to bring a companion (friend or relative) along.

Post-Treatment Care Instructions

Your vein specialist will explain all after-treatment guidelines to you in detail. Below is a summary of the post-laser surgery precautions:

  1. Monitor the incision – A few of you may experience minor bleeding and bruising from the incision. If you notice blood stains on the bandages, raise your legs and apply pressure on the incision. If this does not stop the excessive bleeding, contact your doctor.

    If you also witness minor swelling, apply ice on the incision for 15 minutes. A painkiller may be taken to reduce the discomfort. You may wash the incision with soap and water. Never use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to clean the wound.

  2. Avoid strenuous activities – Do not lift heavy weights or perform any strenuous exercise for at least two weeks from the date of the laser treatment. You may go out for a brisk walk, 20 minute every day is good to ensure proper blood flow and fast-track the healing process.
  3. Take showers – Instead of soaking your legs in hot water, take showers in the first week after the treatment procedure. The water that you bathe with must only be warm and not hot.
  4. Do not sit or stand for long durations – Although you can do your everyday chores, join office, and get back to work soon after your laser surgery, you must avoid sitting or standing for long durations at a stretch. Moving around at frequent intervals aids in improving blood flow.
  5. Wear compression stockings – Compression stockings are support stockings that put additional pressure on the leg veins and thus promote blood flow back to the heart. You must wear compression stockings continuously for at least three days after the laser treatment or as recommended by your vein expert.
  6. Do not miss follow-up appointments – You must never miss your follow-up appointments with your vein specialist. He/She may call you over for ultrasounds checks to monitor the healing progress and to review your medications in a few days after the procedure, ensure to get your check-ups done in a timely manner.

Conclusion

Laser treatment is a quick procedure that is 100% safe and offers a faster recovery rate. To be able to achieve excellent results, always follow the above tips and tricks. Do not forget to speak to your vein specialist for any other precautions that you must take before and after the laser surgery of varicose veins.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala is the best interventional radiologist in Hyderabad, India and is renowned for his whopping high success rate of endovenous laser ablation procedures on varicose veins patients. In his more than two decades of medical practice as a vascular surgeon, he has completed over 12000 laser procedures. His patients are happy with his professionalism and totally satisfied with his unmatched medical assistance.

At Avis Vascular Centre, Dr. Rajah V Koppala and his team of vein specialists employ only the USFDA approved treatment procedures of laser treatment and follow all protocols of the American College of Phlebology. Dr. Rajah V Koppala and his team prioritize patient health and focus primarily on their satisfaction. They ensure the highest levels of comfort for patients of all age groups and have made special provisions for non-local patients with round-the-clock assistance for Mediclaim approvals from all leading national insurance agencies.

If you are worried about those swollen and enlarged veins that are visible to be bulging out from the skin surface and experience immense pain and discomfort from them, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Vascular Centre. We begin with a physical examination along with ultrasound scans to know if you will benefit from the laser treatment. For a thorough analysis and best-in-class laser treatment, book your consultation today!

What is a good time to see a Vein Specialist?

Veins are the thin blood tubes that are located right underneath our skin. Spread throughout the body, the veins carry used and deoxygenated blood from the vital body organs, back to the heart. Most veins have valves that prevent backflow of the blood.

Healthy veins are essential to facilitate the proper functioning of the human body. Although most people believe that they will never have any vein related health issues, vein disorders like spider veins and varicose veins are quite common in both men and women who are over 50 years of age.

Vein diseases vary hugely in their signs and symptoms. Sometimes the vein disorders are silent and there are no visible signs, but in a few cases, a serious vein problem may cause severe pain, swelling, and discomfort in the affected body part.

When left untreated for a long period of time, vein health issues can even lead to life-threatening ailments like venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and active venous ulcers. Thus, it is essential to not ignore any symptoms and visit a vein healthcare practitioner if you notice either of the below symptoms:

  1. Prominently Visible Signs – For some patients, the vein disorders are visible even by the naked eye. In such medical cases, there are visible bulges on the skin that can even be felt on touch. The affected veins turn dark blue or purplish in colour, are clearly visible right under the skin, and the patient may complain of itching, irritated skin, soreness, and a heavy feeling.
  2. Acute Leg Pain – Although vein disorders may occur in any body part, they are most commonly found in the legs. Patients with vein health issues may suffer from extreme pain that is usually felt in the legs after they sit, stand or remain in the same position for an extended time duration. Patients may also suffer from severe pains after undertaking a long flight or when they remain seated for long by getting stuck in a heavy traffic jam.

  3. Severe Swelling in Legs – If you have swelling in both legs that usually disappears in the morning, there is nothing to worry about, as this swelling has no connection to your vein health. But if you feel that the swelling gets worse when you exert yourself and keep moving or remain seated in the same position for long, it most probably is the case of varicose veins and you must take an appointment with a vein expert for accurate treatment of the same.

  4. No Relief from Home Remedies – To a few patients with some early signs of vein disorders, the vein specialists may advice regular use of compressions stockings that aid in regulating blood flow back to the heart from the leg and foot veins. Such patients may also be asked to elevate their legs while sleeping. But, even after doing these home remedies, if there are no signs of improvements and the patient still has pains and discomfort, he/she must see a vein healthcare expert and discuss all symptoms.

The patients may feel constant restlessness in the body part affected with a vein disorder. Although the vein disease symptoms vary in intensity, the pain and discomfort may increase when the patient is exerted, thus negatively affecting the patient’s quality of life.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you must not delay seeing a vascular expert. But, if you are over 50 years of age and still have no visible signs of vein disease, as a precautionary step you must still get an appointment with a vein expert for a physical examination to rule out any possibility of a vein health issue.

If you are in and around Hyderabad and are looking for a vein specialist, book an appointment with the renowned vascular surgeon Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals. Dr. Rajah is highly educated and has 24 years of experience in successfully treating the most severe cases of vein disorders. Avis Hospitals is equipped with the latest medical technology and has an army of the most caring medical staff. For absolute relief from your vein discomfort, get in touch with Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals today!

4 Common Myths About Varicose Vein Treatment

There is an increasing number of varicose vein cases being reported every year. Although varicose veins have become relatively common in India, people are still unaware of the condition and its treatment process.

Most people also confuse spider veins with varicose veins but these two medical conditions are fairly different. In this internet era, patients often rely on Google and try to self-diagnose their diseases which is the leading cause of misconceptions.

Today, we are about to burst some of the most popular varicose vein myths in this informative post. Read till the very end to improve your varicose vein knowledge.

Myth #1 – Varicose vein treatment is a painful surgery

In ancient times, vein stripping was the only available treatment for varicose veins. In this process, the patient is sedated and the damaged veins are removed by a surgical process.

This process is highly invasive, truly painful, and leaves a huge cut on the patient’s body. It also has an extended recovery time and the patient generally continues to be in pain even after the surgery has been successfully completed.

With medical advancements, surgical procedures are now rarely recommended for only the critical cases where varicose veins lead to severe issues of venous disorders. There are new and minimally invasive procedures where laser fibre is used to cure the pain point.

The highly suggested cure of medical treatment, endovenous laser ablation is absolutely painless, performed with local anaesthesia, and the patients do not get any cuts or stitches on their body.

Myth #2 – Varicose veins come back after the treatment

The vein stripping procedure is not as effective and patients often complain of re-appearance of varicose veins after treatment. However, for the laser process, the affected vein is accurately identified with the Duplex Ultrasound Scan before being cured.

This special ultrasound helps the doctors to treat the problematic vein and close it permanently. This allows the body to re-route the blood from the damaged vein to other neighbouring healthy veins.

There are extremely low chances of the varicose veins coming back after the endovenous laser treatment. It surely has a quick recovery process and the patient in most cases can resume work and other daily activities almost immediately.

Myth #3 – Varicose veins need to be treated only for cosmetic reasons

Varicose veins are not only an unpleasant sight but also a painful condition that is accompanied by itching, insomnia, skin damage, blood clots and even bleeding ulcers. Thus, getting treated for varicose veins is not merely for a cosmetic purpose, it is most definitely to improve the patient’s overall health and quality of life.

Varicose veins, when left untreated for a longer duration can lead to serious health issues due to the blood that continues to remain pooled in the damaged veins. This can even lead to clots in the veins. It may further cause Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) that is the medical condition where a clot develops in the deep veins and may require immediate medical care.

In some severe cases, the patient may suffer from a more serious disease called the chronic venous insufficiency where the patient’s skin turns brown around the calf and ankle due to leakage of the pooled blood into the tissues of the lower legs. This further leads to ulcers which are even more harder to cure and difficult to heal.

Myth #4 – Varicose veins are not covered under insurance

In the few not-so-critical cases of spider veins, most insurance companies do not offer a Mediclaim cover. But for varicose vein patients who are suffering from swelling, itching, pain, and the condition is negatively affecting their lifestyle, they must not shy away from contacting their insurance agency to know more about the insurance coverage.

As varicose vein treatment is not merely a cosmetic correction treatment, insurance agencies generally have this covered in their policies. Today, laser vein ablation and radiofrequency ablation treatment are offered with a cashless plan by almost all leading insurance agencies of India.

If you have any signs of varicose veins or have been already been diagnosed with them, schedule an appointment with the renowned and trusted vascular surgeon Dr. Rajah V Koppala to get an estimate of the treatment required and its expenses. After this, you can consult your insurance agencies to cross-check about the offered insurance cover.

Avis Hospitals has the latest equipment and a professional team of doctors who offer the most reliable medical advice under the guidance of Dr. Rajah V Koppala. Schedule a consultation today!

5 Essential Things Need to Know About Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are truly bothersome. They are the enlarged and swollen veins that cause intense pain and constant irritation. Some varicose veins are internal while most of them are visible right under the skin.

Varicose veins are an unpleasant sight and cause extreme discomfort to a large number of patients. Occurring more frequently to women than men, varicose veins are formed when the vein valves get damaged over time and cause the blood to pool leaving the patients with a heavy feeling in the affected area.

Even though varicose veins is a common medical condition for the aged people, there is a total lack of awareness about its symptoms and treatment. Lets us burst the most common varicose vein myths below:

  1. Varicose veins are spider veins – Often times, varicose veins are considered to be spider veins and these two terms are used interchangeably. However, spider veins are not varicose veins. Spider veins are comparatively smaller, less painful and very thin. Spider veins look like thin ink lines drawn on the skin while varicose veins bulge out from the skin and are much more painful.

  2. Varicose veins are vital to the circulatory system – Varicose veins used to be an essential part of the circulatory system but now as their valves do not function well and they cause the blood to pool, they are no longer useful to the body. They are superficial and it is safe to get them cut or totally removed from the body. The body automatically re-routes the blood to other healthier veins and continues to function perfectly well without these veins.

  3. Varicose veins cannot be prevented – Varicose veins can most certainly be avoided by keeping a check on your weight, wearing comfortable footwear, and having an active lifestyle. If you are obese or overweight, there is additional unwanted pressure on the legs and that can damage the valves of the leg and feet veins thus leading to the severely painful varicose veins. Footwear that restricts the blood flow can also force the blood to pool in the legs and around the ankles. Mild regular exercises focussing on the ankles have also been known to reduce the chances of varicose veins in most patients.

  4. Varicose veins are not a hereditary medical condition – In a few cases, varicose veins have also been found to have developed in patients who were neither overweight nor had a sedentary lifestyle. Varicose veins are thus, also related to hereditary and have been found to be a genetic medical condition for a few people. If your family members have a history of varicose veins, sadly even you have a higher probability of getting them at some point in your life.

  5. Compression Stockings offer no comfort to varicose vein patients – Compression socks, also called support stockings are a blessing for the varicose vein patients. They are available in multiple sizes and are generally lose from the thighs but tighter near the ankles. They help keep the veins compressed and thus hinder the blood from pooling. Ideal for long flights or varicose vein patients who have desk jobs with long intervals of sitting in the same position, these help reduce the pain, slow down the progression of existing varicose veins, and also restrict new developments of varicose veins.

If you have any early signs of varicose veins or have been successfully diagnosed with them, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Dr. Rajah V Koppala at Avis Hospitals is a vascular surgeon and specializes in non-invasive laser treatment of varicose veins. It is an absolutely safe and painless procedure. There is a minimal post-treatment care and the patients are usually discharged from the hospital on the same day as their endovenous laser treatment.

Avis Hospitals has a proven track record of happy patients who have been successfully cured of their varicose veins. No matter your age, if you have varicose veins, Dr. Rajah V Koppala is here to help you get rid of them. For pin-point diagnosis and world-class treatment, book an appointment at Avis Vascular Centre today!

4 Dangers Associated With Varicose Veins

Most of us wrongly believe varicose veins to just be a cosmetic issue. Varicose veins, however, refer to a medical condition where malfunctioning valves of certain veins restrict the blood flow back to the heart and result in the undesired pooling of blood.

Characterized by swelling in the damaged area, pain, itching, and a feeling of heaviness, varicose veins do not only affect the elderly but are becoming increasingly popular in young adults as well.

Visible as swollen and enlarged bluish-purple veins, varicose veins can most often be seen as bulging out from the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are known to lead to other medical complications in cases where the treatment is delayed. Let us learn more about the dangers of varicose veins:

  1. Blood Clots – These are fairly common for all varicose veins patients. Although blood clots in the superficial veins do not pose a serious threat to life, blood clots in the deep veins (Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT) can travel to other parts of the body such as the heart, brain, and even to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism which is a fatal medical condition.

    Blood clots can also lead to the health disorder called thrombophlebitis where the blood clots block one or more veins, usually in the legs. The affected area feels warm. The veins are painful and turn red in colour.

  2. Leg Ulcers – Varicose veins cause excessive swelling and hyperpigmentation where the skin around the affected area turns darker than the surrounding area. At this time, you will begin to notice open sores on the skin surface of the legs and these are commonly known as ulcers.

    The ulcers usually develop on the inner leg slightly above the ankle and are termed as the last stage of the venous disorder. Lack in treatment can cause chronic ulceration when while you try to heal one ulcer, another ulcer forms up at a different location on your legs.

  3. Bleeding – As varicose veins are usually the superficial veins, they are situated right under the surface of the skin. Even a small cut on the skin or a minor injury can cause excessive bleeding. Also, because the varicose veins result in the pooling of blood in the affected area, it can become very difficult to stop bleeding and there are high chances of it resulting in heavy blood loss!
  4. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) – When blood remains pooled in the varicose veins and the surrounding tissues, the blood pressure in the affected area rises and stays elevated for longer periods. This leads to the medical conditioned known as CVI.

    Chronic venous insufficiency is common for people who have blood clots in the deep veins and suffer from DVT. The skin around the affected area becomes to look leathery. It looks flaky and there is a lot of itching. CVI can further lead to venous eczema and venous stasis ulcers.

Home Remedies

Varicose veins have been classified as a lifestyle disorder. There are certain precautionary steps that you can take to improve your lifestyle and thus decrease the chances of occurrence of varicose veins and also reduce the intensity of the symptoms.

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat a nutritious diet that is low in fats and sugars
  • Make an exercise routine
  • Remain active throughout the day
  • Avoid sitting or standing for too long at a stretch
  • Use pillows to elevate your legs above the level of your heart while lying down on a bed
  • Wear compression stockings to improve the blood flow in your legs and prevent pooling of blood
  • Keep exercising your legs and ankles during long flights or car journeys

Treatment

Opposed to ancient times, today the varicose veins can be easily and efficiently treated by the painless and minimally invasive laser treatment process. In the endovenous laser ablation technique, the doctor makes a small incision in your skin and inserts a laser fiber along with a catheter to the damaged area.

The affected veins are then closed off and the body automatically re-routes the blood to the other neighbouring healthy veins. This procedure is performed with local anaesthesia and monitored with the help of a duplex ultrasound scan. It is a 100% safe procedure and does not lead to any major side-effects.

The endovenous laser treatment is a comparatively cost-effective and fairly quick procedure as compared to the surgical procedures and radio-frequency ablation techniques. Performed commonly as an outpatient procedure at the doctor’s clinic, it allows the patient to go back home on the same day and resume everyday work routine from the next day itself. The laser treatment for varicose veins is popular for being the no-cut, no-stitch, and no-scar treatment.

Conclusion

At Avis Vascular Centre, our all treatment procedures are USFDA approved. We strictly adhere to the protocols of the American College of Phlebology and ensure that all patients have a convenient and satisfactory medical experience.

We offer 100% price assurance at the time of admission along with free duplex scan facility to all deserving patients with 100% assistance for Mediclaim approvals from all leading national insurance providers.

We treat over 40000+ patients every year and have a cent percent success rate. We ensure that the chances of recurrence of varicose veins are reduced to a negligible minimum. We have an array of satisfied patients who speak highly of our professionalism and medical care.

Our doctor panel is headed by the extremely qualified and supremely talented Dr. Rajah V Koppala who has 24+ years of experience as an interventional radiologist. Having successfully cured patients with the worst cases of varicose veins, he is the best medical care practitioner for varicose veins not just in Hyderabad but in Telangana as well as all of India.

We are eager to make India, a nation free of venous disorders. If you want to know more about our treatment services or are eager to get your medical check-up for varicose veins done from Dr. Rajah V Koppala, schedule a consultation at Avis Vascular Centre today!

Six Things to Know About Varicose Veins

Six Things to Know About Varicose Veins

In India, as many as 20% of the adults suffer from varicose veins. Although more prevalent in adults, especially women who are over 50 years of age, numerous cases of varicose veins have already been reported in youngsters as well.

For a few patients, varicose veins may just only be an ugly sight, but for most others, these turn out to be truly painful and extremely discomforting. Let us learn more about varicose veins below:

  1. All leg veins are not the same

    Veins are vascular structures that are responsible for carrying the used and deoxygenated blood from all different body parts back to the heart. When valves of certain veins deteriorate and do not promote, rather hinder, the blood flow back to the heart, it causes pooling of blood and results in varicose veins.

    Veins lose their elasticity and become dilated thus leading to swollen and painful veins that are often seen bulging out from the skin surface of the legs. These are clearly visible to the naked eye and are accompanied by irritation and itching in the damaged area.

    Varicose veins are largely different from spider veins. Spider veins are smaller and tubular blood vessels that are usually seen in treelike or spiderweb like form on the legs. Spider veins do not have severe symptoms and do not usually lead to any medical complications.

  2. Some symptoms should not be ignored

    If your varicose veins are not causing any discomfort or pain, you may not necessarily get them treated immediately, but there are a few symptoms which must be reported to the doctor as soon as possible. Please make a note of them below:

    1. Itchy and dry skin around the affected area
    2. Redness on the damaged skin surface
    3. Hyperpigmentation on the lower leg and/or ankle
    4. Thickening and/or hardening of the skin of the affected area
    5. Skin ulcer that is an open sore and is not caused by an injury. It may or may not have pus fluid drainage.

All these are severe symptoms of varicose veins and you must seek medical care and treatment in a priority. In a few cases, varicose veins also develop due to Deep Vein Thrombosis (clots in the deep rooted veins) that may not have any symptoms for some people or may occur with severe leg pain and swelling in some other cases.

Another prominent symptom in cases of DVT is the pain in the calf of one leg that is usually accompanied by cramps and soreness. Your legs may also feel warm when you touch them. If you notice one or more of the above mentioned symptoms, you must not delay visiting a vascular expert.

  1. You will need an ultrasound

    If you have any early symptoms of varicose veins or doubt that you might be suffering from a venous disorder, you must visit a vascular expert and get an ultrasound done. The Doppler ultrasound scan will help the medical practitioner analyse and evaluate your condition and its severity.

    With the help of the doppler ultrasound scan, the vascular expert will be able to measure the amount of blood flow in your leg veins. These help the doctor to examine any abnormalities that may require treatment.


After the ultrasound scan reports, the vascular expert will suggest the best treatment option to cure the underlying medical condition.
The doctor will advise whether the affected veins can be treated by the latest laser ablation procedure or will necessarily require surgery.

  1. Painless treatment option is available

    About 15 years ago, the only way to treat varicose veins was a surgery where the patient was given general anaesthesia and operated in an operation theatre. The surgical procedures are quite painful and require massive post-operative care. The patient is usually advised complete bed rest after the surgery.

    With humungous advancements in medical technology, varicose veins can be effectively treated by the painless and minimally invasive laser technique. This process is quick and requires only local anaesthesia. Usually performed in the doctor’s office itself, there is minimal post-operative care and the patient can go back home on the very same day.

  2. Diet and exercise can help

    As we age, most of us will have ugly looking, prominently visible, abnormal, and enlarged veins on our legs and feet. Obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, and a job that requires you to sit or stand for longer durations at a stretch are the major risk factors of varicose veins.

    There is little that we can do to prevent venous disorders and diet and exercise play a major role in it. A nutritional diet and a moderate exercise routine may not be able to prevent varicose veins but can definitely assist in delaying its onset and reducing the probability of varicose veins turning into a critical condition.

  3. Varicose veins caused due to pregnancy may go away on their own

Some women develop varicose veins during pregnancy. The circulating blood volume increases in the woman’s body to take care of the foetus, hormonal changes also occur and cause dilation of the leg veins.

Women who suffer from varicose veins in their pregnancy term must wait for three to six months after delivery. If the varicose vein symptoms still persist, she must schedule an appointment with a vascular expert and seek expert medical assistance.

Varicose veins are not a very serious condition but can turn into a medical emergency if treatment is delayed. If you have visible but painless varicose veins in the lower leg region, immediate treatment may not be required but there are high chances of these varicose veins turning into highly painful and swollen veins in due course of time.

Thus, it is suggested to plan your medical check-up and treatment in a priority. Your search for a trusted and reliable vascular medical institution ends with Avis Hospitals. We have a team of internationally qualified and extensively trained interventional radiologists who specialize in the USFDA approved laser treatment of varicose veins.

The protocols that we follow are approved by the American College of Phlebology. We treat over 4500 patients every year and already have over 12,000 happy and satisfied patients with a whopping success rate of 95%

We also offer complete assistance to outstation patients with 100% price assurance at the time of admission itself. We have tie-ups with all leading insurance agencies of India and assist in quick Mediclaim clearance for one and all.

For the most trusted, reliable and efficient treatment of your varicose veins, schedule an appointment with us today!

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!

Hidden Dangers If You Don’t Treat Varicose Veins

Most people believe varicose veins to just be a cosmetic issue, but in reality, they are a serious medical complication and pose a severe threat to your life! Not only do they make your legs look ugly but also negatively affect your body’s blood circulation, thus being the sole reason for many venous disorders and other health concerns.

Today, as many as 30% of the people suffer from these bulging and swollen veins that can be felt and seen right under the surface of the skin in the lower region of the legs. Caused when certain leg veins with a faulty valve become incapable of sending the deoxygenated blood back to the heart, these appear as bluish-purple veins and result in pooling of blood.

Varicose veins are a clear sign of some serious underlying health issues that must be addressed in a timely manner. Painful varicose veins must be immediately reported to your doctor as any delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in irreversible health conditions.

Below are the top 6 medical conditions that may crop up due to the lack of treatment of varicose veins:

  1. Leg Swelling – As the pressure builds up in the faulty veins, the blood fluid leaks into the surrounding tissues and causes swelling. Swelling can be felt like a tight sensation in your legs, the socks may begin to leave an impression on your legs, and in severe cases, the swelling can be to an extent that your shoes may not fit your feet anymore. Most times, elevating your legs with the help of a pillow will help reduce the swelling temporarily.


  2. Skin Ulcers – Open sores or wounds that are difficult to heal are called skin ulcers. Swelling in the legs for an extended duration of time can lead to skin colour changes in the affected area. The skin may also turn hard as the swollen tissues hamper the blood flow and restrict the nutrients and oxygen from reaching the involved tissues. Reducing the leg swelling is vital to healing these open sores.


  3. Skin Infection – As the tissues get stretched due to the swelling, the body loses its natural defense mechanism to fight against infections. The bacteria on the skin surface may get into the body and cause a bacterial infection referred to as cellulitis. The infected area becomes red and feels warm. This generally requires antibiotics for treatment. Reducing the swelling is also likely to help in the recovery process.


  4. Bleeding – Right below the surface of the skin, a large amount of blood remains pooled in the varicose veins and the surrounding tissues. If by any chance you get injured and hurt, cut or damage your veins, there is bound to be significantly more bleeding than usual. If the injury is very large, it will probably take you longer than normal to stop the bleeding.


  5. Thrombophlebitis – This refers to an inflammatory process where a blood clot is formed that blocks one or more of your veins, most commonly in the legs. It is highly probable for untreated varicose veins to cause blood clotting. The damaged area becomes very painful, it is warm to touch, and the veins also becomes quite hard.


  6. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – In about 25% cases where people have developed blood clots in their veins, the blood clots are formed in the deeper veins and this condition is referred to as DVT. The biggest risk in DVT is that of the blood clot breaking off and travelling to the lungs as that can result in the life-threatening disease called pulmonary embolism. DVT is a medical emergency and must be treated in a priority.

Varicose veins, whether painful or not, must be treated by a vascular expert to prevent further damage and unforeseen vein health complications. For the treatment of varicose veins, you need not undergo surgery as today, there are available minimally-invasive procedures that are painless and have zero downtime.

Avis Hospitals’ team of vascular specialists and interventional radiologists have expertise in treating the varicose veins with the latest endovenous laser ablation process that is a no-cut, no-scar, and no-stitch procedure. The process requires only local anaesthesia and the patient can go back home the same day to resume work and everyday activities from the next day itself!

If you are eager to know more about the endovenous laser treatment process, get your medical check-up done from experienced doctors, learn about the treatment expenses, and ask your queries regarding the available medical insurance assistance, feel free to schedule an appointment at https://avisvascularcentre.com/

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!

What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?

Blood is pumped from the heart to all body parts and limbs. The human body veins are responsible to carry the used and deoxygenated blood back from the body parts to the heart. All veins have one-way valves that direct the blood to flow to the heart and restrict its backward movement.

The blood in the leg veins must flow upward, against the pull of the gravity to reach the heart. Venous insufficiency occurs when the leg vein valves do not function as desired and restrict the blood’s movement to the heart. As a result of this, the blood flows back to the leg veins. These malfunctioning valves force the blood to remain collected in the leg veins thus causing blood pooling.

If this medical ailment is left untreated, the condition becomes chronic and the symptoms get worse leading to a disorder that is referred to as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) in medical terms. CVI is also accompanied by extremely high blood pressure in the affected leg veins which may also result in stasis ulcers and other severe health complications.

Causes of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Women are more probable to suffer from CVI than men. It usually occurs in people over 50 years of age and there are more than a handful of reasons that can lead to chronic venous insufficiency. Let us have a look at the risk factors below:

  • Presence of blood clots in the deep veins of legs that cause Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which is responsible for damaging the venous walls and the vein valves
  • Pelvic tumors and vascular malformations
  • Any leg injury
  • Pregnancy or being pregnant again with not enough time gap in between
  • A family history of CVI or varicose veins
  • A poor lifestyle that includes an absence of regular exercise and lack of a balanced diet
  • Excessive smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Being obese or inactive
  • Standing for prolonged hours at a stretch that raises the blood pressure in the leg veins and weakens the valves

Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

There are subtle symptoms in the earlier stages of chronic venous insufficiency but if you pay attention to the appearance and sensation in your legs, it will not be very difficult for you to understand and evaluate the urgent need to visit a vascular specialist.

Given below are some of the major warning signs of CVI :

  • Constant itching on the legs
  • Lower leg skin color changing to brown and the skin looking dull
  • Leg cramps and restlessness
  • Severe leg pain when walking or resting
  • Swelling around the ankle and/or lower leg area
  • Wounds that do not heal and lead to leg ulcers
  • Tightening in calves
  • New development of varicose veins
  • Skin commences to look and feel like leather

Treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Chronic venous insufficiency is 100% treatable. If you notice any early symptoms, you must immediately consult a vascular expert as delayed treatment may have serious ill-consequences.

Following is a list of the feasible treatments that the vascular expert might undertake :

  • Antibiotic oral medicines to cure dermatitis or skin infections with steroid-based ointments for direct application on the skin. A medical wrap may also be suggested for the affected leg area
  • Medication to prevent the possibility of blood clots
  • Sclerotherapy – the medical procedure where a thin needle is used to inject medicines directly into the affected veins. These medicines disrupt the lining of the vein and completely shut it off. The dead vein is later absorbed by the body itself.
  • Endovenous ablation – this is an invasive process that uses laser light or laser fiber to dissolve the problematic veins
  • Surgery – this is comparatively a much more complicated process where the vein is either repaired or cut and tied off so that blood no longer flows through it.
  • Compression stockings – These stockings offer support to the legs and improve blood circulation. Available in multiple sizes, tightness, lengths, and style, your doctor will be able to guide you with the right pair of compression stockings as per your need
  • Lifestyle changes – This undoubtedly is the most important form of self-care and the most effective treatment for CVI. Regular exercise, weight loss, giving up on cigarettes, and not standing or sitting for too long will aid in the recovery of CVI

Though the treatment offered to a patient depends on the age, the severity of  the symptoms and a few other factors, all doctors will first attempt to curb the swelling in the legs and prevent the formation of leg ulcers.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala, the vascular specialist at Avis Vascular Centre has successfully treated thousands of patients suffering from varicose veins, leg ulcers, and CVI. Schedule a consultation to avail his expert medical assistance today!