ภาวะเส้นเลือดขอดบริเวณขา

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are a condition that is commonly found in women, especially those over the age of 50. In women, the occurrence of the enlargement of red blood vessels (Telangiectasis) is more than four times that of men, with over 50% of women experiencing this condition. However, at the same time, the size of varicose veins in men can be up to twice as large as in women. Varicose veins occur due to abnormalities in the aforementioned valves, which cause blood to flow back and result in blood pooling within the veins and causing them to become swollen. The main factors that contribute to the occurrence of blood flow back are pregnancy, excess weight, and having a family history of the condition. In addition to causing pain and swelling in the legs, varicose veins can also increase the risk of developing chronic skin conditions, infections, blood clots, and sudden bleeding in the affected area.

Currently, Vibhavadi hospital offers multiple ways of treating varicose veins, such as:

Injection therapy, which involves injecting substances like Sodium tetradecyl sulfate and Polidocanol into the affected veins to induce clotting and blockage. This method is considered effective and standard, but may have side effects such as bruising, inflammation, and clotting in other veins due to excessive or inappropriate injection, including injecting into red blood vessels, which can cause foot pain.
The use of Nd:YAG laser, which has a success rate of up to 75% reduction in varicose veins after one treatment session. This method is effective for both blue and red veins and can be used as a primary or supplementary treatment for patients who have previously received injection therapy but did not see improvement.
Surgical removal of the affected veins is another effective method, especially for patients with large or complicated varicose veins.

In addition to these treatments, preventing varicose veins is also important, especially for people who stand for long hours each day, those who are overweight, and pregnant women. Effective prevention methods include elevating the legs and wearing compression stockings.