At the age of 27, I always put my priorities straight, and the number on the list is my health. I thought that if I have a healthy lifestyle and exercise, I will be free from diseases. Everything in my life was going well until I felt excruciating pain in my legs. At first, I believed it was just because of too much stress at the office. But it gets painful every time.
I took a leave from work to visit my doctor, and that is when she told me that I have varicose veins. When I heard the word, my doctor educated me about it, and I also researched it when I got home. So, let me share the things I have learned about varicose veins.
VARICOSE VEINS
My vein doctor told me that varicose veins are because of enlarged blood vessels. Because of this, it appears to be a twisted vein and shows in dark-purple colour. It could appear anywhere in the body, but it is usually on the legs.
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS
One of the things I also learned is that deep vein thrombosis is also common in Singapore. The signs, symptoms, and causes are the same as varicose veins, but deep vein thrombosis has blood clot involvement. If there is a blood clot, the situation might get worse.
My doctor told me that it is good that I booked an appointment early because my situation might get worse and become deep vein thrombosis. Instead of doing vein treatments at home, I would need immediate medical attention.
CAUSES
Before I visited the vein clinic, I had no idea how I felt pain in my legs when I exercise every day and eat healthy foods to keep my body healthy. It turns out that the problem was in my veins. Here are some of the causes of varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis:
- Overweight – not all overweight people could experience varicose veins, but it could still happen to some. Do diet and exercise to ensure that you would avoid getting this health condition. If you experience varicose veins, you might also be prone to deep vein thrombosis. Do not let yourself get into that situation.
- Pregnancy or menopause – varicose veins could happen to pregnant or menopausal women because of hormonal changes. If you are pregnant, be more careful in your sixth or seventh month because this condition usually appears during that period.
- Genes – you could inherit this condition, and it is what happened to me. I did not know that varicose veins run in our genes. You must learn about the medical history of your family. It is to know if there are health conditions that you might get from them.
- Sitting or standing for a long time – it could put pressure on your veins, making them stretch. It is common for people who work and sit for how many hours. If you are sitting for a long time, do not forget to stretch your legs and do minimal exercises.
- Injuries – for people who love sports, you should also be careful. Leg injury also triggers varicose veins because of pressure.
If you are in any of these situations, you should look out for your legs. Always take care of yourself, especially your health.
SYMPTOMS I EXPERIENCED
The first symptom I had was the pain in my legs. I thought it was just normal because there are days that I do not exercise. However, as my legs get more painful, I also noticed their appearance. My legs started showing some dark purple veins, and they look twisted and swollen. But, it is curable using home remedies. If you have the same symptoms as mine, you should visit the nearest vein clinic near your home.
TREATMENTS I DID
Since my condition was not severe, the vein doctor told me that I could use compression stockings. It is to improve the circulation of my blood. She also told me to do exercises. I also massaged and elevated my legs to feel less pain.
There are many treatments for varicose veins. Here are some of them:
- Herbal medicine – the herbal medicine for varicose veins is grape seed extract. However, it is not suitable for severe cases, even deep vein thrombosis.
- Laser treatment – heat energy is what the vein doctor will use to remove varicose veins.
- Sclerotherapy – to remove the dark purple colour of the veins, a chemical will be injected. The results will take weeks to show.
Before you do any of these things, you need to visit your vein doctor first. They will be the ones to tell you what kind of treatment suits your condition.
If you are looking for a vein clinic in Singapore, visit Cheng SC Veins and Endovascular’s website. You will see all the offers and services they have for their patients.
