Vein diseases such as varicose veins, spider veins, and venous insufficiency or venous reflux are so common that you might think of them as harmless, but they’re not always purely cosmetic. They can be painful and uncomfortable, and should be treated. You can take steps to manage venous insufficiency yourself, but a visit to a vein clinic can be necessary if you don’t get the condition under control.
Causes and Effects of Venous Reflux
Normally, your vein return blood to your heart so it can be circulated again in the body. Venous reflux occurs when your veins are unable to return blood as efficiently. The following are common causes of venous reflux.
- Varicose veins, which don’t function as well as healthy veins and have blood pooled in them.
- Blood clots, which interfere with regular blood flow.
- Damage to valves in the vein, which allow blood to flow backwards instead of progressing forward to the heart.
- Weak leg muscles which are unable to squeeze hard enough to get blood back to the heart.
If you have venous reflux, you can experience the following symptoms.
- Swelling in your legs.
- Aching, cramping, and throbbing in your legs.
- Leg weakness.
- Skin ulcers.
Home Remedies for Venous Reflux
Obesity is a risk factor for venous insufficiency. You can reduce your risk of developing it and slow progression by losing extra pounds. A safe way to lose weight is to eat smaller portions and choose healthy foods, such as vegetables, lean proteins, fruits, and beans.
Exercise helps you lose weight by burning calories, but weight loss isn’t the only benefit of exercise for venous reflux. Exercising can strengthen your leg muscles to improve venous return, or blood flow back to your heart. Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, and weight training can all build your leg muscles.
Vein doctors may recommend compression socks to reduce venous insufficiency. These socks squeeze your legs, increasing the pressure so blood can be pumped back to your heart. You can find them in pharmacies, and a pharmacist can assist you in selecting the proper size and level of compression for your situation.
Therapies from a Vein Clinic
Don’t despair if these treatments don’t work, At a San Luis Obispo vein treatment clinic, you can discuss even more options. These can include the following.
- Quitting smoking, since smokers are at higher risk for damage to blood vessels like veins.
- Trying anticoagulant medications if your venous reflux is the result of blood clots.
- Laser therapy or sclerotherapy to get rid of varicose veins.
If you can’t get the relief you need by using home treatments for venous reflux, it may be time to go to a vein clinic. Vascular surgeons are experts at helping patients with vein disorders, and Tampa Bay treatment can be effective.
