VARICOSE VEIN

It has been a tiring week. Though I think it has also been a boring one too. I didn't go to hospital the whole week because the final year students were having their exams in the hospital so other students are banned to enter the hospital, unless if you are sick of course :P

Today I was called by the lecturer to talk on Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT) but before I can tell you what it is I have to write about VARICOSE VEINS first then maybe next time if at all I remember I'll write about DVT.

Varicose veins are actually quite common. It actually means that there is presence of abnormal vein anywhere in the body that is more elongated,tortuous and dilated. It can occur anywhere in the body but the one that concerns doctors more is the one affecting the legs. Usually patient will not complaint much on pain as they are usually dull type. But it might not be acceptable to the patients cosmetically.

Normally, there are valves in the veins of the legs that help the veins to bring back blood towards our heart. But what happens here in varicos veins, the valves will be damaged and then it causes blood to pool in the legs and causes the veins to be dilated and tortuous. And if patients don't seek medical help then it might progresses and he or she can develop complications, such as an ulcer or bleeding from the varicose vein.

There are certain risk factors as to why it develops, like smoking, standing for a long time-like policeman or guards or surgeon too(my dad has one too),and it can also happen in pregnancy. But there are also ways how you can prevent this from happening. You should exercise regularly,STOP SMOKING!,and learn to stretch your legs and contract the calf muscle every now and then even if you are sitting down.

If you have developed a varicose vein(or someone you know has varicose vein) you should seek medical help and the doctors can try to deal with your problem. Certain varicosity need only conservative treatment but the later stages, you might need to undergo operations to remove the diseased veins. Usually the doctors will give you a compression bandage like the picture I posted up there. At home, whenever you are sitting down you should put your feet on another chair or when you are sleeping you should elevate your legs over 2pillows. This will help the blood to stop pooling in the veins and can be circulated back to the heart.