Early recognition so as not to miss the "golden time" for treatment
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai - Institute of Cardiology, Bach Mai Hospital - said that many patients come to the clinic when their disease has progressed severely, while early detection and proper treatment can help significantly improve the quality of life.
Feeling heavier, tired or cramps at night seems to be just a sign of fatigue after a day of work, but according to experts, it can be an early sign of lower limb varicose vein - a disease that is increasingly common and tends to get younger, especially in office workers, drivers, teachers, and chefs.
Dr. Hai said that the initial symptoms of lower limb varicose vein relaxation are often easily overlooked. Patients may feel heavy, painful, and slight edema in their ankles in the afternoon or at night, accompanied by cramps while sleeping. Some cases of burning, numbness, and ant enthusiasm in the legs.
Observatively, the disease can manifest as a small red or purple blood vessel under the skin ( Spinal Venous Expansion), a throbbing vein or a dark, itchy area of skin around the ankles. In the late stages, foot ulcers can appear that are difficult to heal - the most serious complication.
Symptoms are often more severe when standing or sitting for long periods of time and decrease when your legs are high or move lightly. If detected at an early stage, the disease can be treated internally, avoiding complicated interventions" - Dr. Hai said.
Who is susceptible to varicose veins?
Lower limb varicose vein propagation occurs when the valve in the vein is damaged, causing blood to flow back and stagnate in the lower limbs. The disease does not leave anyone, but the risk is higher in:
Elderly: varicose veins that weaken over time.
Women: due to hormonal effects, menstruation and pregnancy.
People with genetic factors: parents or siblings who have had the disease.
People who are overweight or obese: increased pressure on veins.
People who are sedentary or have to stand/ sit for long periods of time: blood has difficulty circulating to the heart.
Just sitting in one place for too long, without much exercise, you have caused the muscle pump in your calves - the part that helps blood return to the heart - to work ineffectively, gradually leading to tinh stagnation, Dr. Hai analyzed.
Depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor will choose the appropriate method. In the early stages, patients only need to change their lifestyle, use medical pressure socks and vein support drugs to improve circulation.
In more severe cases, less invasive interventions are now widely applied, such as varicose vein injection, vein incineration with laser or high- frequency response (RFA), or biological glue. These techniques provide high efficiency, safety, less pain and quick recovery.
Traditional surgery is now only indicated in some special cases, because new methods give much better results and help patients return to normal activities quickly, Dr. Hai shared.
It is better to prevent diseases than to treat diseases Dr. Hai recommends that to avoid lower limb varicose veins, each person needs to pay attention to reasonable exercise and maintain a scientific lifestyle.
Regular practice: walking, swimming, cycling, yoga all help increase blood circulation. After every 30-45 minutes of work, stand up to move, rotate your ankles, and hooves to activate your circulation.
Eat healthy: increase green vegetables, fruits, fiber-rich foods; drink enough water, limit salty intake.
Live properly: keep your feet high when resting, avoid wearing tight pants, do not sit cross-legged, limit wearing high heels regularly.
Lower limb varicose veins not only cause pain and heaviness in the legs but also directly affect the quality of life. Although not life-threatening, if left for a long time, the disease can lead to thrombosis, varicose veins and chronic leg ulcers.
