A good blood circulation is vital to the human body. The heart pumps oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to nourish the cells and transport waste products away. The veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Blood in the veins in the lower parts of the body has to travel uphill against gravity. They are the most heavily burdened veins of all. To ensure a good blood flow back to the heart, they have been equipped with small valves that open to let blood pass through and then close again. If they fail to do so, they don’t close tight and more and more blood can accumulate in the veins. The heat produced as a result of the blood and time dilates the veins more and more and allows leeway for incorrect blood clot formation and vein inflammation.
The consequences are veins that are clearly visible under the skin of the calves and/or thighs, the so-called spider veins. If the condition worsens and some of the larger deep vein valves are affected, the legs lose some of their slimness and become thicker, with some even suffering from painful, inflamed varicose veins. At this stage, the need to treat venous insufficiency becomes really urgent. In severe cases, ulcers form complicated lower limb diseases which necessitate several operations. In the following, some effective conservative and interventional treatments will be discussed. A conservative treatment is, for example, compression therapy using special stockings that can be tailored to put pressure on the veins in the right places to optimize the flow of blood back to the heart. Such treatment always has to be accompanied by physical therapeutic follow-up. Interference with the venous system should only be considered if conservative therapy does not nourish established veins or offer no relief from the discomfort. Then the various treatment options have to be checked one after the other to see which one has to be the first line of defense. If you’re looking for treatments for varicose veins, contact our team.
Overview of Vascular and Interventional Centre
They share the passion and belief in the common values in Singapore – care, teamwork, respect, and integrity. Their aim is to provide patient-centred care to every patient who seeks treatment, from the smallest aesthetic problem to the most severe life-threatening vascular disease. Their principle services are mainly in the non-invasive or minimally invasive sector, which helps in maintaining fertility while reducing hospital stay and ensuring early return to normality. Public health is the key priority, and they have also partnered with social organizations to assist them in the early detection and prevention of complications of venous and lymphatic disease.
It now provides high-quality treatment specifically for venous and lymphatic diseases. A small team of dedicated doctors, led by a vascular surgeon trained specifically for vascular diseases, cardiology, and clinical colleagues support this committed team. It is committed to the ‘7 Ps’ of healthcare, namely patient-centredness, professionalism, partnership, people development, prevention, and public accountability.
Understanding Vein Diseases
A varicose vein can be treated through minimally invasive procedures. To understand how to resolve vein diseases and problems, it is important to begin with an understanding of how these problems arise. Spider veins actually form early in the development of larger varicose veins, as surface spider veins mark a deeper vein problem, like the tip of an iceberg. There are two basic systems of veins in your legs. Superficial veins, which are close to the skin, and deep veins, which are located within the muscles of the calf and the inner thigh. Superficial veins, just as their blood is more visible through the skin, are more prone to damage and dilatation. After arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body, veins return oxygen-poor blood back to the lungs and heart to remove the waste and then recycle oxygen. Because veins are the workhorse of the circulatory system, there is more venous volume in the legs than in the arterial system. Veins have tougher work overcoming gravity, which is why it is more common for a network of veins and valves to get weak and damaged, especially in the legs, causing the valves to fail, a condition called chronic venous insufficiency.
Varicose veins, spider veins, and other vein diseases are an often debilitating and sometimes painful problem, especially for women. More than 20 million Americans today suffer from vein diseases, and the total cost in medical expenses and lost earnings is $2.5 billion a year. Yet, increasingly, vein diseases can be treated effectively. Many patients live with vein diseases for years without realizing their symptoms can be treated, misinterpreting the signs of vein disease as typical aches and pains of daily life, even though excellent treatments exist today. The idea that varicose veins and their more minor cousin spider veins are “only” cosmetic concerns is a common and dangerous misconception. Vein diseases can be more serious, causing not only unsightly veins but aching, itching, and fatigue but in their worst cases, ankle ulcerations, and can be painful and debilitating. Vein disease treatment is available in Singapore.
What Are Varicose Veins?
They often also appear as a result of overstretching the inner lining of the vein, which can lead to achy legs and thrombosis. Symptoms include fatigue, feelings of heaviness in the legs, aching, throbbing, burning, cramping, swollen, itching, or numb and tingling leg muscles. In severe cases, this condition can lead to pitting edema, in which the tissue swells so much that it has the texture of an orange peel. These symptoms usually worsen due to long periods of sitting, standing, and especially heat. Pain caused by varicose veins is greatly relieved by elevating the legs or using cool compression hose. The main treatment for varicose veins is surgery. However, in recent years, a number of other methods have been developed, e.g. radiation therapy, the injection of a special drug (sclerotherapy), and the use of certain local ointments.
Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be found in various parts of the body, but most commonly in the legs and feet. They are more common in women than in men and are often associated with heredity. A vein is part of the body’s system for transporting blood from the leg back to the heart. Leg muscles pump blood back to the heart to overcome the effects of gravity. Veins contain one-way valves that prevent the backward flow of blood. When these valves malfunction, gravity causes the blood to pool, leading to an increase in blood and pressure. As a result, the veins enlarge and often become varicose somewhere along their course. In addition to weakened vessel walls genetically determined, there are other factors that can affect the appearance of varicose veins, such as long-term standing, pregnancy, and overweight.
Common Vein Diseases
Chronic venous insufficiency is more advanced than varicose veins, but it is also more dangerous since this disease harbors the threat of blood clots and skin ulcers. Complications in chronic venous insufficiency arise as the venous return from the legs and feet is non-functional. In worsening stage I, younger patients experience only leg fatigue, which later progresses to varicose veins stage II and then, non-healable leg injuries and varicose ulcers in advanced stage III. It is a clearly understood fact that the lipid profile of individuals with chronic venous insufficiency changes. Muscle contraction and valve functions may not be optimal or might be incompetent to deliver venous return to the heart. Upstream pressure, support structure, congenital disorders in veins, independent person-related conditions like obesity and pregnancy, and immobility may cause venous insufficiency.
Varicose veins are the most common vein diseases. Varicose veins are dilated and twisted veins that usually appear in the legs, as these are the body’s most pressure-exposed veins. These veins lose their natural elasticity and as the vessel walls break and weaken, blood cannot flow freely and the veins become larger. Varicose veins may rarely cause serious medical complications, but they can still lead to feelings of heaviness in the legs, or injury, harm, itching, and rashes on the exposed skin. These conditions can be intensified by being overweight, standing or sitting for a long period, and sometimes, high-heeled shoes.
Benefits of Minimally Invasive Treatments
The treatment of large varicose veins requires tremendous effort. Even in extreme cases, minimally invasive therapy is effective. The treatment begins with a one-hour noninvasive closing of the interior saphenous vein using thermal techniques. Treatment for varicose veins in the lower part of the legs would naturally follow, as long as most of the blood from the deep vein resumes its normal course back to the heart instead of flowing into the varicose veins. Behavioral modification is one of the most significant aspects of the modern therapy of venous diseases. However, before vein surgery is considered, many patients may need reassurance that even severe varicose veins can be treated. Aesthetic video-assisted technology is popular for treating small varicose veins that cannot be injected. Patients can return home a few hours after the procedure has been performed.
Minimally invasive technology is directly responsible for the fact that vein disease can be comfortably treated in an outpatient setting in just a few hours. Just a couple of decades ago, vein stripping (the removal of the vein from the body) was the principal treatment for vein diseases. Patients with vein diseases can now look forward to effective and minimally invasive treatments, in addition to earlier and more accurate vein diagnosis. Those who suffer from the discomfort of burning or aching, and sometimes severe muscle cramps can both be relieved with minimal side effects and minimal hospital bills.
