Varicose Veins Stockings – Varicose veins refer to the enlarged veins which appear on the skin, mainly behind the knees, calf, and feet. When the valves within the veins get weak, the blood flows in a retrograde direction, and instead of moving towards the heart, it remains in the veins. Hence, these veins become overfilled with blood. Due to over-filling, they become superficially exposed over the skin, which looks like a lump of veins stuck together. This condition is also referred to as varicosities or varicose.
Symptoms associated with varicose veins
You can easily check if you have varicose veins or not by simply viewing the skin at the back of your knees. If a bunch of greenish-blue veins are visible on the skin, your skin suffers from varicose veins. Other prominent symptoms include,
- 1. Feeling heaviness on walking
- 2. Discoloured skin
- 3. Aching in lower limbs
- 4. Swelling in ankles, feet and knee region
- 5. Formation of ulcers
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The problem of varicose veins may arise due to several factors:
- 1. Multiple pregnancies
- 2. Obesity
- 3. Family history
- 4. Female sex
- 5. Increased age
- 6. Lifestyle habits: Standing for long periods
- 7. History of deep vein thrombosis
Multiple pregnancies
Various changes in pregnant women’s bodies promote the occurrence of varicose veins. The blood volume in veins and arteries is increased during pregnancy, which leads to stretching of veins and enlargement. The growing baby in the mother’s womb also adds to the weight of the overall body, putting pressure on the blood vessels of the pelvic region, resulting in altered blood flow.
Obesity
Increased weight puts pressure on the lower limbs and eventually affects the circulatory system. Heavy body weight makes it difficult for the blood vessels to distribute, deliver and move the blood back to the heart. Consequently, extra pressure on weak veins can damage blood vessels, leading to varicose veins.
Family history
Developing varicose veins greatly depends on family history. There is a 40 % chance of getting affected if one of the parents is involved and a 90% chance of getting varicose veins when both parents have this problem.
Female Sex
Prevalence rate of varicose veins is higher in women in pre-menopause than men.
Increased Age
With age, valves in the veins weaken and fail to manage the blood flow, resulting in varicose veins.
Lifestyle Habits
Standing for long periods is one of the reasons for getting varicose veins
Due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
The development of blood clots in veins causes DVT; this condition subsequently blocks the blood flow towards the heart, which leads to varicose veins.
What are Varicose Veins Socks
Varicose veins stockings or socks are special socks manufactured to provide compression to the lower limbs of the body to heal varicose veins or prevent blood clotting. Sclerotherapists advise wearing special stockings, often post-surgical treatments. These stockings put pressure on the veins present on the calf, ankles and behind the knees. This compression improves the blood flow and prevents blood clotting and swelling.
3 Best Stockings for Varicose Veins
There are three types of varicose vein stockings or socks, based on the range of pressure they impose on legs:
Support pantyhose- These stockings exert the least pressure on legs, having a compression level of less than or equal to 20mmHg.
Compression socks and stockings- Compression stockings come in a range of prices , depending on the extent of pressures they exert. The level of compression they provide is more than 20 mmHg. These stockings are more supportive and tight than support pantyhose.
Prescription compression stockings- These are specially prescribed and fitted by a sclerotherapist. They are highly effective and have the highest compression of all socks. After putting on the specialist, examine the patient for some time to check that they are not affecting the blood circulation.
Based on the length of stockings, the varicose vein stockings are of two types:
- 1. Knee-high stockings- These are manufactured to improve circulation of the lower legs and below knees, which are quite effective during exercises.
- 2. Thigh-high stockings- Doctors recommend these stockings for post-surgery patients to prevent the clotting of blood.
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The Benefits of Compression Socks
The sclerotherapist prescribes stocks to compress and improve blood circulation in the lower limbs. These stockings exert high pressure near the foot region, and as it moves upward, the compression is released gradually. It ensures easy blood flow and pushes back the blood towards the heart.
These stockings are beneficial in various ways:
- 1. They decrease the pressure inside veins through external compression
- 2. Relief swelling
- 3. Relief of swelling in legs
- 4. Prevent the adverse effects of varicose veins
- 5. Skin looks smoother with no discolouration
- 6. Compression socks are prescribed for patients undergoing sclerotherapy or endovenous laser treatments. These socks help eliminate the risk of varicose veins and ensure constant blood circulation.
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Diagnostic Tests and procedures for varicose veins
Physical examination: The doctor examines the person while standing to look for the swelling in the legs and can ask for aching or any discomfort in the legs.
Test to diagnose varicose veins
Venous Doppler Ultrasound: It is a noninvasive diagnostic procedure to examine the flowing blood through the valves in the veins. The working principle behind this test is the use of Doppler’s effect, in which sound waves are measured that have been reflected from the moving objects (in this case, red blood corpuscles). It will help in detecting the blood clot in the legs.
How is the Doppler’s ultrasound practised?
The Doppler’s test requires a transducer, which sends sound waves or signals to the concerned part of the body. The reflected sound waves are transmitted into signals to produce images of the blood flowing in veins.
Treatment options for Varicose veins
The first line of treatment prescribed by physicians is compression stockings. In most cases, varicose veins socks have proven to be a successful treatment option and may help eliminate the problem of varicose veins if followed with other lifestyle interventions.
If this therapy is ineffective, the patient can opt for other treatments.
Varicose veins socks cost
Varicose vein stockings range from ₹200 to ₹3000 or more, depending on the type, material quality, compression properties and viability. Various medical brands sell these for ₹1500- ₹6000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean in vain?
These blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood from tissues back to the heart.
What is the simplest way to check whether I have varicose veins or not?
You can easily check if you have varicose veins or not by simply viewing the skin at the back of your knees. You suffer from varicose veins if a bunch of greenish-blue veins are visible on the skin. Other prominent symptoms include,
- 1. Feeling heaviness on walking
- 2. Discoloured skin
- 3. Aching in lower limbs
- 4. Swelling in ankles, feet and knee region
- 5. Formation of ulcers
-
How obesity leads to varicose veins?
Obesity– Increased weight puts pressure on the lower limbs and eventually affects the circulatory system. Heavy body weight makes it difficult for the blood vessels to distribute, deliver and move the blood back to the heart. It will cause damage to blood vessels, leading to varicose veins.
What is the vein in a person?
These are the blood vessels which carry deoxygenated blood from all the tissues of the body back to the heart.
Which is the correct vein or vain?
The correct spelling of one of the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart is a vein.
Where are jugular veins? And why are they very important?
Jugular veins are involved in carrying deoxygenated blood from the back of the brain tissues toward the heart. The jugular veins include three pairs of veins in your neck. These are named the interior veins, exterior veins and anterior veins.
Where are varicose veins?
Varicose veins refer to the enlarged veins which appear on the skin, mainly behind the knees, calf, and feet. When the valves within the veins get weak, the blood flows in a retrograde direction, and instead of moving towards the heart, it remains in the veins. Hence, these veins become dilated and overfilled with blood. Due to over- filling, they become superficially exposed over the skin, which looks like a lump of veins stuck together. This condition is also referred to as varicosities or varicose.
What are the similarities and differences between Doppler’s ultrasound and normal ultrasound?
Doppler’s ultrasound is similar to normal ultrasound because both tests involve using sound waves (ultrasonic waves) to produce images of the inner body.
However, Doppler’s ultrasound is not completely similar to the normal ultrasound. The working principle of Doppler’s ultrasound is based on the Doppler effect. The sound waves are measured after getting reflected from moving objects like white blood cells or red blood cells. Whereas, in normal ultrasound, sound waves are reflected from steady things like bones and the signals are transmitted to produce pictures, which doctors examine.
How is the Doppler’s ultrasound practised?
To carry out Doppler’s test, a soap shaped instrument is handled and moved across the concerned region. That instrument is a transducer, which sends sound waves or signals to the concerned part of the body. The reflected sound waves are transmitted into signals to produce images of the blood flowing in veins.
What are the benefits of compression stockings?
Compression Socks for Varicose Veins
The Benefits of Compression
The sclerotherapist prescribes compression stockings to improve blood circulation in the lower limbs. These stockings exert high pressure near the foot region, and as it moves upward, the compression is released serially. It ensures easy blood flow and pushes back the blood towards the heart.
These stockings are beneficial in various ways:
- 1. They decrease the pressure inside veins through external compression
- 2. Relief swelling
- 3. Relief of swelling in legs
- 4. Prevent the symptoms of varicose veins
- 5. Skin looks smoother with no discolouration
- 6. Compression socks are prescribed for patients undergoing sclerotherapy or endovenous laser treatments. These socks help eliminate the risk of varicose veins and ensure constant blood circulation.
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