Treatment for varicose veins: what are the options?

Removing varicose veins

Varicose veins can cause many problems. They can make your legs feel constantly tired, cause itching or simply make you feel tense. In serious cases, the veins can even become inflamed. Not all varicose veins cause symptoms. Nevertheless, most people would prefer to see them disappear. Because, removing varicose veins is certainly not only intended for medical reasons, but also because people are sometimes ashamed of them, simply find them unattractive and therefore no longer dare to wear shorts, skirts or dresses.

There are various treatments available. The treatment you qualify for depends on various factors. These include the severity of the complaints, but also the location of the varicose veins. That is why the practitioner will first examine the veins with a duplex scanner. This examination determines the best treatment for you. Then you can choose from laser treatment, phlebectomy (where the vein is completely removed), sclerocompression therapy (where the vein is injected with a special liquid or allowed to shrivel) or perforatorectomy (a minor operation).

Preventing varicose veins 

Prevention is obviously better than cure. It is better not to undergo radical treatments if it is not necessary. However, it is a fact that varicose veins are often genetic. If your parents had it too, there is a very good chance that you will also develop it sooner or later. There are also other risk factors that can increase the chance of developing varicose veins. These include being overweight, pregnancy, thrombosis and age. The older you get, the greater the chance of developing varicose veins. 

Is there absolutely nothing that can be done to prevent it? Sometimes not. There are things you can do to minimize the risk, however. A healthy lifestyle is the most important. Make sure you don't become overweight, get enough exercise and eat healthily. That already forms the basis for a healthier body, a healthier weight and therefore less varicose veins. Do you have a predisposition for varicose veins? If so, it is best not to wear tight clothing around your legs. This unnecessarily constricts the blood vessels. Use support stockings if necessary to help your body. Also try to find the right balance between sitting and standing when doing work that requires you to be on your feet. This will reduce the strain on your body and legs and prevent pressure on the veins.