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Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgery is a specialized branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the vascular system, arteries and veins. Various minimally-invasive procedures, medical therapies and surgical reconstruction can be performed. Vascular surgery evolved from cardiac and general surgery and has seen many technical advances over the past few decades.

All vascular surgeons are trained to diagnose and manage diseases that affect the vascular system, except for the brain and heart. Diseases of the vessels in the brain are seen to by interventional neuroradiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons manage surgical disease of the heart and its vessels. Vascular surgery has evolved tremendously since the 1990s and more emphasis has been placed on mastering minimally-invasive alternatives to surgery.

Treating Varicose Veins

While varicose veins are more commonly found in women, they do also affect many men. They occur when the vein walls are put under pressure and eventually burst causing the blood that would usually be flowing through the vessel to run next to it.

WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS?

Varicose veins, also known as varicoses or varicosities, occur when the veins become enlarged, dilated, and overfilled with blood. Varicose veins typically appear swollen and raised, and have a bluish-purple or red color.

Varicose veins are quite common in older people and the older you get the more delicate your veins become and the easy it is for them to rupture. Most people who suffer from varicose veins develop them in their lower extremities such as their feet and legs.

Although varicose veins do not pose a serious health risk, they are often painful and look unsightly and most people would prefer to have them removed.
Your doctor will examine your legs and visible veins while you’re sitting or standing to diagnose varicose veins and will probably ask you about any pain or symptoms you’re having.

Your doctor may also do an ultrasound to check your blood flow. This is a noninvasive test that allows your doctor to see how the blood is flowing in your veins.

Depending on the location, a venogram may be done to further assess your veins. During this test, your doctor injects a special dye into your legs and takes X-rays of the area. The dye appears on the X-rays, giving your doctor a better view of how your blood is flowing.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING VARICOSE VEINS

Exercise

It has been proven that regular exercise such as walking and jogging will improve circulation which in turn will prevent varicose veins from developing. The better your circulation, the lower your blood pressure will be which means a lesser chance of developing varicose veins.

Avoid prolonged standing

Standing for a long period of time is not good for you as more strain is placed on your feet and legs. The more pressure you have on your legs, the higher the risk of the pressure weakening the vessel walls. If you do need to stand for long periods of time ensure that you alternate your position from time to take to take the pressure off one foot or leg.

Correct posture

Sitting up straight is always important as it improves blood circulation and ensure that you do not cross your legs for long periods of time as it restricts the blood for to and from your legs which places strain on the vessel walls and could cause them to protrude and even burst.