How To Get Rid Of Varicose Vein In South Africa
What is Varicose Vein?
Varicose veins are thick, ropy blue or purple veins in the legs that can be seen near the skin’s surface.
Varicose veins occur when a person’s veins become swollen and enlarged. In some people, they can cause pain and discomfort. A range of home treatments may help to reduce the appearance and pain of varicose veins.
How To Get Rid Of Varicose Vein In South Africa
Treatment for varicose veins may include self-care measures, compression stockings, and surgeries or procedures. Procedures to treat varicose veins are often done as an outpatient procedure, which means you usually go home on the same day.
Ask your insurer if varicose vein treatment is a covered expense. If varicose vein treatment is done only to improve the appearance of the legs (cosmetic reason), the cost might not be covered by insurance.
Self-care
Self-care — such as exercise, raising the legs when sitting or lying down, or wearing compression stockings — can help ease the pain of varicose veins and might prevent them from getting worse.
Compression stockings
Wearing compression stockings all day is often the first approach to try. The stockings squeeze the legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently. The amount of compression varies by type and brand.
Compression stockings are available at most pharmacies and medical supply stores. Prescription-strength stockings also are available and may be covered by insurance if varicose veins are causing symptoms.
Surgeries or other procedures
If self-care steps and compression stockings don’t work, or varicose veins are more severe, a health care provider might recommend surgery or other procedures:
- Sclerotherapy. A health care provider injects the varicose veins with a solution or foam that scars and closes those veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade.The same vein might need to be injected more than once. Sclerotherapy doesn’t require anesthesia and can be done in a health care provider’s office.
- Laser treatment. Laser treatment sends strong bursts of light onto the vein, which makes the vein slowly fade and disappear. No cuts or needles are used.
- Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy. This procedure is the preferred treatment for larger varicose veins. A health care provider inserts a thin tube (catheter) into an enlarged vein and heats the tip of the catheter using either radiofrequency or laser energy. As the catheter is removed, the heat destroys the vein by causing it to collapse and seal shut.
- High ligation and vein stripping. This procedure involves tying off a vein before it joins a deep vein and removing the vein through small cuts. This is an outpatient procedure for most people. Removing the vein won’t keep blood from flowing in the leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the larger volumes of blood.
- Ambulatory phlebectomy (fluh-BEK-tuh-me). A health care provider removes smaller varicose veins through a series of tiny skin punctures. Only the parts of the leg that are being pricked are numbed in this outpatient procedure. Scarring is generally minimal.
Home treatments for varicose veins
If a person has varicose veins, they can try the following home remedies to help manage the condition and improve symptoms:
1. Exercise
Regular exercise encourages better blood circulation in the legs, which helps to push along the blood that has collected in the veins. Exercise also helps to lower a person’s blood pressure, which is another contributing factor to varicose veins.
Low-impact exercises help to get the calf muscles working without excessive strain. Effective, low-impact exercises include:
- swimming
- walking
- cycling
- yoga
2. Compression stockings
Compression stockings are available from most pharmacies and can help by applying pressure to the legs. This aids the muscles and veins to move blood toward the heart.
A study from 2018 found that people who used knee-high compression stockings with a pressure of 18 to 21 mmHg for one week, reported a reduction in the pain and aching associated with varicose veins.
Compression stockings can be found in pharmacies or online stores.
3. Plant extracts
A review study from 2006 suggests that horse chestnut extract, Aesculus hippocastanum L., may help to reduce leg pain, heaviness, and itching in people with chronic venous insufficiency, which is a major cause of varicose veins. Aesculus hippocastanum L. is available to purchase in health stores and online.
A review study from 2010 reports that sea pine extract, Pinus maritima, and Butcher’s broom extract, Ruscus aculeatus, may both reduce leg swelling, or edema, that is often associated with varicose veins. Ruscus aculeatus is available to purchase in health stores and online.
Plant extracts and essential oils should be diluted in carrier oils before being applied topically or used in a diffuser for aromatherapy.
4. Dietary changes
Salty or sodium-rich foods can cause the body to retain water, so cutting down on salty food can minimize water retention. Foods high in potassium can help to reduce water retention.
Foods that are high in potassium include:
- almonds and pistachio nuts
- lentils and white beans
- potatoes
- leafy vegetables
- some fish, such as salmon and tuna
Foods with fiber help to keep the bowels moving and prevent constipation. This may be important, as straining can aggravate damaged valves or make them worse.
Foods that are high in fiber include:
- nuts, seeds, and legumes
- oats, wheat, and flaxseed
- whole-grain foods
People who are overweight are more likely to experience varicose veins, therefore, shedding any excess pounds can reduce the pressure on the veins and alleviate swelling and discomfort.
5. Eat more flavonoids
Adding foods that contain flavonoids may also help a person to shrink their varicose veins.
Flavonoids improve blood circulation, which will keep the blood flowing, and make it less likely to pool in the veins. They also help to reduce blood pressure in the arteries and can relax blood vessels, all of which can reduce varicose veins.
Foods that contain flavonoids include:
- vegetables, including onions, bell peppers, spinach, and broccoli
- citrus fruits and grapes, cherries, apples, and blueberries
- cocoa
- garlic
6. Herbal remedies
According to the National Institute of Health, taking grape seed extract, Vitis vinifera, orally may help to reduce swelling in the lower legs and other symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, though there is currently limited evidence for its effectiveness.
A person prescribed with blood-thinning medication should avoid taking grape seed extract, as a dietary supplement, as it can interact with the medication and increase the risk of bleeding.
7. Choose non-restrictive clothing
Wearing tight-fitting clothes can restrict blood flow. A person may find that their circulation is improved by wearing loose-fitting clothes that do not restrict the blood supply to the lower body.
Wearing flat shoes instead of high heels may also help with varicose veins in the legs.
8. Keep the legs elevated
Keeping the legs elevated, ideally at the same height as the heart or above it will help to improve circulation. This reduces the pressure in the leg veins and gravity will help the blood to flow smoothly back to the heart.
A person should aim to keep their legs elevated if they are going to be sitting down for long periods of time, such as during work or rest.
9. Massage
Gently massaging the affected areas can help to keep the blood moving through the veins. A person can use gentle massage oils or moisturizer for optimal effects.
It is crucial to avoid pressing directly onto the veins, however, as this may damage fragile tissues.
10. Keep moving
Avoid sitting for long periods of time. If a person has to sit for long periods of time for work, they should aim to get up and move around or change position frequently to keep the blood flowing smoothly.
Avoid sitting with crossed legs, as this can further restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, which may add to circulation problems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Can you dissolve varicose veins?
No anesthesia is needed. Laser treatments: Dermatologists use lasers to treat spider veins and small varicose veins. During laser treatment, your dermatologist directs the laser light at the vein. Laser light can destroy the vein without damaging your skin.
Can varicose veins be permanently removed?
The surgical options include Ablation, Phlebectomy and Vein Stripping, which are permanent treatment options. In these procedures, the vein is either ablated or surgically removed so it cannot return.
Is it OK to massage varicose veins?
Massage therapy is not recommended to patients with advanced-stage vein disease, in which big and bulging veins, ulcerations, and discoloration are present. Massaging the area can cause the already weakened veins to burst, worsening the condition.
How can I fix my varicose veins without surgery?
Compression therapy is the most conservative treatment option. Compression stockings are designed to apply specific pressure to the legs to alleviate discomfort and swelling and do not require a prescription.
Can varicose veins go away naturally?
Varicose and spider veins do not just go away on their own, but they can sometimes become less visible. You may also find that symptoms temporarily go away at times, particularly if you lose weight or increase physical activity. However, your vein symptoms will likely return over time.
What is the best cream to use for varicose veins?
Topical arnica comes in cream (or gel ointment) that can be applied to the skin overlying inflamed or painful varicose veins.
Can Ice help varicose veins?
It reduces swelling in the legs. Ice is a natural anti-inflammatory. Use ice packs on your legs and feet or stick your feet in a bucket of ice water. The ice also reduces pain from varicose veins.
Can ginger cure varicose veins?
Ginger. Among its many healing qualities, ginger is used to promote good blood circulation and thus, help prevent varicose veins. It has been shown that ginger breaks down fibrin (a protein that causes lumpy veins) in the blood vessels. For best results, add fresh ginger to your diet.
What happens if varicose veins are left untreated?
If left untreated, varicose veins usually result in excess blood leaking into the tissues of the leg. The patient will experience painful swelling and inflammation as parts of their skin become dark and discolored. This condition is known ashyperpigmentation.
Is it worth getting varicose veins removed?
Surgery can very effectively relieve varicose vein symptoms: In more than 80% of people who have varicose vein surgery, it improves symptoms like pain, swelling and itching or makes them go away completely, and their legs look better afterwards.
Is walking good for varicose veins?
While exercise won’t cure varicose veins, it can help improve your symptoms and reduce your risk of developing more. Walking, biking and swimming are all great low-impact exercises that are easy on the joints and help circulation in varicose veins.
Can varicose veins go away with exercise?
If you have varicose veins, exercise can’t cure them, but it can ease your discomfort. While there is no way to completely prevent varicose veins, exercise will improve circulation and tone your muscles, which may reduce your likelihood of developing them. Getting rid of existing varicose veins can be trickier.
How painful is varicose vein surgery?
As with any traditional surgery or minimally invasive procedure, pain is possible. However, with advances in medical technology, leg discomfort after varicose vein surgery should be minimal and last only a short time.
What are the best vitamins for varicose veins?
Vitamin K. Vitamin K has been increasing in popularity in preventing varicose veins. It is recommended to use it topically, like in a cream. Vitamin K is an anticoagulant, meaning it helps prevent blood clots to keep blood flowing smoothly through the veins.
Does drinking water help varicose veins?
Most of all, when it comes to vein health, drinking enough water supports vein health and can aid in preventing varicose veins. Drinking enough water improves blood flow and strengthens the muscles that support your veins, both of which are important for those who suffer from varicose veins.
What is the main cause of varicose veins?
Varicose veins are caused by increased blood pressure in the veins. Varicose veins happen in the veins near the surface of the skin (superficial). The blood moves towards the heart by one-way valves in the veins. When the valves become weakened or damaged, blood can collect in the veins.