[메디컬투데이=조성우 기자] Varicose veins are a progressive vascular disease that occurs due to damage to the valves in the veins of the legs. Once they occur, it is difficult to return to the original state, so it is a disease that requires continuous management through active treatment from the beginning of symptoms.
In most parts of the body, it is easy to think that protruding dark-blue blood vessels are varicose veins, but in reality, varicose veins in the form of protruding blood vessels are a symptom that only appears in 30% of all patients, and the majority of patients have latent varicose veins, so there are many cases of varicose veins. Patients should not be diagnosed with a disease based on symptoms alone.
Varicose veins are caused by a combination of various causes, but the causes are generally family history, aging, gender, occupational characteristics, lack of exercise, and incorrect lifestyle habits. In particular, it is known to be a disease that affects people in occupations such as office workers, teachers, nurses, and hairdressers who sit in the same position for long periods of time, and occurs more frequently in women than men.
The main symptoms include pain, muscle cramps, pulling symptoms, swelling, and pressure. Since most symptoms appear without blood vessel protrusion, it is easy to mistake it for simple muscle pain and neglect the symptoms rather than actively treating them from the beginning. Unlike usual, if even mild symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is highly likely that the symptoms are caused by varicose veins, so it is best to visit a nearby medical institution as soon as possible to get a diagnosis.
Director Park Jeong-gyu of Dependun Lower Extremity Surgery said, “Varicose veins are a progressive vascular disease, so early detection and early treatment are important. If treatment is delayed and the disease is left untreated, various complications such as blood clots, pigmentation, sclerosis, and ulcers may occur, so special caution is required. “For diagnosis, we first listen to the patient’s medical history and perform a blood vessel ultrasound to determine whether there are varicose veins and the progress of the disease, and then we can plan customized treatment according to the results.”
Director Park continued, “In the early stages of symptoms, improvement in symptoms can be expected through conservative methods such as appropriate exercise and rest, wearing compression stockings, and drug treatment, as well as non-surgical treatments such as vascular sclerotherapy. However, if the disease does not improve despite such treatment, surgical treatments such as Benacil, Clarivane, radiofrequency, and laser can be applied depending on the patient’s health status and disease progression,” he added.
The key to treating varicose veins is early detection and continuous management through active treatment from the beginning. In particular, since it is a disease with frequent recurrences, even if the treatment is successful, it is important to manage the disease through regular checkups as well as lifestyle management. It is best to avoid wearing stockings, skinny jeans, or leggings, which can put pressure on blood vessels and interfere with blood circulation, and manage your weight to prevent pressure inside the veins from increasing. Also, if you sit or stand for a long time, it is helpful to stretch for a certain period of time.
Medical Today Reporter Jo Seong-woo (ostin0284@mdtoday.co.kr)
[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
