Know why vein diseases in legs happen and why is it so prominent? The reason being the veins in our legs carry blood to the heart. The veins have one-way valves that restrict the blood flow backward. This process requires so much pressure as the blood flow towards the heart is against gravity. Due to the pressure, the vein valve depletes, usually with increasing age. The veins swell up, get aerated and thus the blood doesn’t reach the heart well.
You must have seen your grandparents with the inflated veins, clearly seen on their hands and legs mostly. Though the chances of varicose and spider veins are usually a result of increasing age, the disease is quite commonly seen today.
Pregnant women, individuals with long-standing jobs, overweight or obese persons are most at risk.
The major causes of venous insufficiency are either a blood clot or severe vein infection or damaged veins such as varicose veins. The healthy veins the blood continuously flows from limbs back to the heart. Valves within the veins help restrict the back blood flow. Due to damage to these valves, the blood doesn’t reach the heart and thus it leads to various vein insufficiencies. Sometimes severe that it may usher to chronic venous adequacies. Venous insufficiency is more common in women than in men. Lifestyle changes, medication and tiredness or tightness in the legs lead to poor veins. The other risk factors that cause venous insufficiency are;
- Obesity
- Blood clot
- Varicose or spider veins
- During pregnancy
- Long-standing jobs cause leg heaviness
- Smoking
- Muscle weakness
- Unhealthy diet
- Someone with a history of varicose veins
Weakness in the leg muscles that push blood forward can also contribute to venous insufficiency.
When we unusually walk or use our legs more than normal, we feel tired. Similarly when we sit all day doing nothing, no movement our legs still feel tired. So what should one do? To avoid leg heaviness, if one is overweight, they must lose weight. Every one of us is aware of “smoking is injurious to health”, it indeed is and is one of the leading causes of leg heaviness. Other causes that lead to leg heaviness or tired legs include;
- Poor blood circulation
- Varicose veins or spider veins
- Multiple sclerosis
- Blood clot
- Muscle cramp
- Pain or muscle spasms
How to treat legs heaviness? In order to treat leg heaviness, one should stop smoking, drink plenty of water and maintain optimal weight. Other treatments for leg heaviness comprises of self-care and medical procedures;
- Take days off from intense workout, do easy exercises such as jogging;
- Sleep with elevating legs about 6-12 inches above the level of your heart;
- Wear compression stockings to help promote the blood flow;
- Be active
- Avoid long-standing work, walk every 30-minutes to reduce pressure on legs due to long-standing work.
- The relief from leg pain and fatigue through medical procedures includes; RF Ablation and Endovenous Laser Ablation in case of severity of the issue.
Varicose veins and spider veins on legs are the major causes of chronic venous insufficiencies. One must take proper diet and avoid alcohol, sugar, and caffeine. Also, it is important to have an optimal amount of rest and maintain a good posture to avoid vein infections.
Varicose veins and spider vein treatment cost depends on the severity of the issue and individual vein anatomy. There are several treatments which cost different depending upon the type of venous insufficiency. The treatment cost thus varies with varied treatments, procedure and individual’s vein characteristics. Consult your doctor about the procedure, cost and insurance well before going for the treatment.
