NOTES FROM

THE PARISH NURSE

It is estimated that as many as 40 million Americans suffer from varicose veins. These are enlarged blood vessels just beneath the skin that appear as blood flow is less efficient as moving blood back toward the heart to receive more oxygen. As veins enlarge, they may swell up to four times their normal width and become an unsightly, gnarled tangle. The legs begin to ache and feel heavy as fluid accumulates.

Some of the risk factors are normal wear and tear on veins and valves. Half of those with varicose veins have a family history of them. More than 70% of women in their 60’s have some degree of varicosity, while about 40 percent of men in the same age group do.

Treatment consists of maintaining normal weight, getting regular exercise, not sitting or standing for long period without moving, and avoiding constrictive clothing. Keep legs elevated during the day and avoid wearing knee-high support stockings. Some treatment options are Sclerotherapy where a doctor injects smaller varicose veins with a chemical that closes them from the inside, Vein Excision that actually removes smaller veins through tiny skin punctures, an Vein Stripping done under general anesthesia, that involves tying off and removing long veins.

(Taken from Remedy – Summer 2008)