<h2 style="text-align: justify;">How to Treat Varicose Veins</h2>
Varicose veins are not only an aesthetic problem, but also a health problem. Varicose veins are a clear manifestation of chronic&nbsp;<a href="https://daflon.ph/heavy-painful-legs">venous insufficiency</a>, thought to be caused by a remodelling of the venous wall, which gives it elastic properties that are different from healthy veins.1 Varicose veins are usually the result of venous dilatation, venous valve damage or both, although they may also be the result of deep vein thrombosis.1
Risk factors include family history of venous disease: female sex, older age; chronically increased intra-abdominal pressure due to obesity, pregnancy, chronic constipation, or a tumor: and prolonged standing.2
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">How are they treated?</h2>
Varicose veins may lead to complications such as infections, ulcers and the appearance of thrombi.2 It is therefore very important to treat them as soon as possible.3&nbsp;When selecting a treatment, the patient's symptoms and preferences should be given consideration. In the initial stages of the disease,&nbsp;<a href="https://daflon.ph/blog/chronic-venous-insufficiency/improve-venous-insufficiency">conservative treatment</a> is preferable. It consists of compressive therapy, resting with legs elevated and lifestyle changes: physical exercise, reducing cardiovascular risk and avoiding swelling of the legs. It is also important to avoid modifiable risk factors such as being overweight.2 These steps are reinforced by the use of <a href="https://daflon.ph/daflon-for-heavy-painful-legs">venotonic medication</a> to relieve symptoms, in particular edema.4 They act on macro- and microcirculation, venous wall and valves, decreasing inflammatory reaction and modifying the mechanisms that trigger venous hypertension. Due to poor compliance with elastic compression therapy in hot countries, venoactive medication is the only available alternative for the treatment of <a href="https://daflon.ph/heavy-painful-legs#stages">early-stage CVD.</a>5
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/servier/image/upload/v1683263741/strapi_upload/doctor_1_1_790e48f4ec.jpg?updated_at=2023-05-05T05:15:42.065Z" alt="varicose treatment" width="896" height="598" />
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">Can varicose veins be removed?</h2>
In cases where varicose veins are at a more advanced stage,&nbsp;surgical treatment is required, with the objective of eliminating blood reflux, restoring normal circulation and eliminating the varicose veins to suppress symptoms and to avoid complications.2,4 The applied surgical technique depends on the type of varicose veins and on each specific case, taking into consideration the possible complications of the treatment. The most frequent surgical techniques are:2
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Thermal ablation:destroys the damaged veins by using a laser externally or by introducing it into the vein through a catheter.2&nbsp;The two options are:
<ul>
<li>External laser thermal ablation: works for &nbsp;&ldquo;spider veins&rdquo;(telangiectasias).2</li>
<li>Endovenous thermal ablation (with laser or radio waves): works for larger calibre veins.2</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Endovenous sclerotherapy: consists of injecting, with the help of ultrasound, a substance that produces an inflammation, with the consequent occlusion of the vein. It is mainly used in small (1-3mm) to medium (3-5mm) size veins.2</li>
<li>Surgery: The surgical strategy consists of interrupting the reflux in the saphenous veins by removing them. Although widely used, it has recently been replaced by newer techniques such as thermal ablation or sclerotherapy which offer faster recovery.2 Laser thermal ablation is better tolerated than sclerotherapy and surgery, has fewer adverse effects and has similar effectiveness.2</li>
</ul>
Surgery has long been considered the best treatment for varicose veins. Recently however, new diagnostic techniques such as Echo-Doppler have been developed that have contributed to the development of new surgical treatments that are less aggressive, but equally effective. Over time, the concept of the best treatment for varicose veins has changed to the best option for each patient.6

Varicose veins: an aesthetic problem, a health problem and a clear manifestation of chronic venous insufficiency. How are they treated?

How to treat varicose veins?

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

CVD Treatment & Prevention

<ol>
<li>Nicolaides A, Kakkos S, Baekgaard N&nbsp;et al.Management of chronic venous disorders of the lower limbs. Guidelines According to Scientific Evidence. Part I. Int Angiol. 2018; 37:181-254.</li>
<li>Raetz J, Wilson M, Collins K. Varicose Veins: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jun 1;99 :682-688.</li>
<li>Eberhardt RT, Raffetto JD. Chronic venous insufficiency. Circulation. 2005. 10;111:2398-409.</li>
<li>Carrasco E, D&iacute;az S. Recomendaciones para el manejo de la Enfermedad Venosa Cr&oacute;nica en Atenci&oacute;n Primaria. 2015. Available at: <a href="https://www.semergen.es/resources/files/noticias/venosaCrocina_1.pdf">https://www.semergen.es/resources/files/noticias/venosaCrocina_1.pdf </a> Last accessed on May 2022</li>
<li>Abbad M et al. Gu&iacute;a de pr&aacute;ctica cl&iacute;nica en enfermedad venosa cr&oacute;nica del Cap&iacute;tulo de Flebolog&iacute;a y Linfolog&iacute;a de la Sociedad Espa&ntilde;ola de Angiolog&iacute;a y Cirug&iacute;a Vascular. Angiolog&iacute;a 2016;68: 55-62</li>
<li>Rial Horcajo R, Serrano Hernando FJ et al.&nbsp;Enfermedad venosa cr&oacute;nica. Conceptos actuales y avances terap&eacute;uticos. Med. 2017 Oct 1;12:2448&ndash;57.</li>
</ol>
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REFERENCES

How to Treat Varicose Veins

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids: Knowing When it’s Time to Go to the Doctor

Traveling with Heavy, Painful and Swollen Legs Causd by Venous Insufficiency: All the Questions Answered

Diosmin + Hesperidin 500 vs Daflon 1000

Diosmin + Hesperidin (Daflon 1000) A Natural Health Product

7 Possible Causes Of Hemorrhoids

Blog

To learn more about living with Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Hemorrhoidal disease and how Daflon could help you manage your symptoms.