April 4, 2025May 13, 2025

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:

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/

April 1, 2025July 30, 2025

admin Preventions and Tips

8 Foods to Avoid for Varicose Veins Diet Treatment

Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins that don’t appear to be dangerous but are actually very harmful to our vascular health. Developing varicose veins is a clear sign of a problem with one or more veins.

Varicose veins often appear in clusters and are found near the outer surface of the skin. These may vary in size from being very small to quite large. There are not many visible symptoms at the early stages and this is the main reason why varicose veins remain undiagnosed in most cases.

These damaged veins are formed due to malfunctioning vein valves that prevent blood from flowing back to the heart. This often results in excessive blood pooling and leads to extreme pain and discomfort along with swelling and tenderness in the affected area.

Although even the medical researchers are not yet confirmed the causes of varicose veins, a few risk factors have been identified that are known to lead to an increase in the likelihood of developing varicose veins. These include obesity, hormonal changes due to therapy or pregnancy, age, genetics, and standing or sitting for long durations every day.

If you have a family history of varicose veins or are at a higher risk of developing varicose veins due to the above mentioned risk factors, it is essential for you to avoid the following food items:

Refined Grains and Flour – Fibrous foods are not only helpful in maintaining a good digestive system but also help prevent blood clot formation. Refined food lacks fibre content and is thus not very appropriate for consumption by people who are at a high risk of varicose veins.
Sugar – In the bloodstream, sugar behaves just like processed grains. High intake of sugar leads to obesity and is a major risk factor of varicose veins for patients of all age groups.
High-Sodium Food – Excessive intake of sodium causes water retention in the body. The body does extra work to lower the sodium content which causes reduced blood flow through the veins. This can lead to additional pressure on the veins and weaken the valves thus leading to an increase in the risk of varicose vein formation.
Alcohol – Unusually high intake of alcohol attacks the ability of the liver and hampers the blood circulation in the body. This in turn can lead to varicose veins.
Green Vegetables – Green vegetables are rich in Vitamin K which is known to promote blood clotting. High intake of green vegetables can make it difficult for blood to flow through the legs and other body parts. Avoid excessive intake of green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and others.
Soy Sauce – In order to reduce the risk of varicose veins, you must also maintain the potassium levels under control. Soy sauce is high on potassium and can cause your potassium levels to spike. It is best to consume soy sauce in moderation or avoid it completely.
Whole Milk – Not only just whole milk, but it is advisable to avoid consuming whole foods as they are rich in fats and lead to sudden weight gain.
Fruit Juice – Packed juices have added preservatives that are unhealthy and can cause obesity.

Even if you do not have varicose veins, you must not consume the above mentioned food items in excess. They are not good for your overall health and can increase your risk of developing varicose veins.

Varicose veins are not life-threatening but timely treatment is necessary to prevent them from progressing and worsening to other vascular disorders such as chronic venous insufficiency, blood clots, and deep vein thrombosis.

The endovenous laser treatment is a painless and minimally invasive laser treatment is the best option for varicose veins. It is the best available treatment that is known to give excellent results for people of all age groups.

In this process, a thin laser fibre is inserted through a small incision made on the skin. The heat from the laser fibre is used to burn off the damaged veins. The body reroutes blood to other neighbouring veins and you get immediate relief from pain and swelling.

Avis Hospitals is the best medical institute for the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins. It is India’s only hospital for comprehensive vein health care. We have the latest medical equipment and the most experienced team of vascular experts.

Dr. Rajah V Koppala who is the head of the department is a skilled interventional radiologist with more than 20 years of experience. He is internationally qualified and has completed 13000+ procedures. He has a huge array of patients who speak highly of his medical excellence and are totally satisfied with his medical care.

Whether you have any early signs or visibly swollen varicose veins, do not delay in booking an appointment with Avis Vascular Centre. Your vascular health is equally important and you must not ignore it. For appointments, call today +91 9154991963.

March 29, 2025July 30, 2025

admin Vascular Diseases

5 Common Misconception On Varicose Veins

In India, a growing number of varicose vein cases are reported each year but there is still a lack of knowledge regarding its symptoms and cure. Most patients get scared on the sight of swollen or enlarged veins and are unaware of the fact that varicose veins are completely curable.

A poor understanding of this medical condition has made the people believe certain things about varicose veins that are not at all true. In this blog today, we will address some of the most common varicose vein myths and clear all misconceptions :

1. Varicose veins are caused due to a neurological disorder

This is undoubtedly the most common misconception related to varicose veins. A majority of the people believe that the visible varicose veins are actually nerves and seek medical advice from a neurologist instead of a vascular expert.

Varicose veins are not nerves and they do not need a neurological treatment. The “Pregabalin” medicine or any other neurological pain reliever that is prescribed by a neurologist will not offer any relief in case of varicose veins. These can only be treated by a vascular expert and a patient who has varicose vein symptoms must not think twice before booking an appointment with a vascular expert.

2. Varicose veins are treated by a dermatologist

Most patients who notice the skin below their knee joint turning darker due to varicose veins consult a dermatologist assuming it to be a skin allergy. They continue to consume medicines and use ointments as prescribed by the dermatologist without any significant improvement in their condition.

This is a clear case of stasis eczema, also called venous eczema which is secondary to varicose veins. For an accurate treatment of venous eczema, the patient must first cure its cause i.e. the varicose veins with the help of a vascular expert and then consult a dermatologist if the skin is still discoloured.

Using the dermatologist-prescribed steroid-based ointment isn’t suggested as it thins the skin causing a decrease in the local immunity which further increases the chances of infections and damage.

3. Venous ulcers can be treated by plastic surgery

Leg and foot ulcers are often confused with a mosquito bite, an injury or most commonly as a side effect of high blood sugar levels. These are ignored and left untreated until the patient witnesses severe pain and is unable to stand or walk.

Venous ulcers, the most popular type of leg and foot ulcers are actually caused due to varicose veins. Getting a skin graph or putting patches of artificial skin on these ulcers does not heal them. These procedures may rather cause more damage in the due course of time. The venous ulcers can only be treated if the varicose veins are also being simultaneously treated by preferably the same vascular expert.

4. Compression stockings will cure varicose veins

Another popular myth is that the compression stockings, also called support stockings are a perfect cure to varicose veins. This is not at all true. Compression stockings offer only temporary relief and that too only to a handful of patients who are at the initial stages of varicose veins.

These stockings are of little to no use for people with a long history of varicose veins. Using the compression stockings in a hot country like India may anyway lead to excessive sweating thus causing more damage than relief. You must never use support stockings without consulting your vascular expert.

5. Varicose veins surgery has a poor success rate

Even today, in this era of scientific growth and massive developments in the medical sector, a large number of people believe that there is no cure for varicose veins. This is far from the truth as varicose veins can be easily treated for patients of all age groups.

Though varicose veins have traditionally been always treated with surgical procedures, the endovenous laser treatments have also showcased a fair success rate for even the most severe cases of varicose veins.

At Avis Hospitals, under the guidance and support of Dr. Rajah V Koppala, we conduct approximately 5000 varicose procedures every year. With a booming success rate, we are proud to have become the leading hospital for the treatment of varicose veins in India. Book an appointment with us for quick relief and total cure of varicose veins!

1 2