What is the best treatment for varicose veins?

Aug 10, 2020 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Kou Linlin

Introduction

What is the best treatment for varicose veins? 1. General (conservative) treatment: For mild cases with minimal symptoms, conservative management is recommended. 2. Acupuncture therapy: This can effectively alleviate swelling, pain, and aching sensations. 3. Surgical treatment: The most common clinical procedure is microscopic nanofilament minimally invasive surgery, characterized by being painless and involving either no incision or only a minimal one.

Varicose veins result from congenital weakness of the venous wall or prolonged maintenance of the same posture with minimal movement, leading to blood pooling in the lower limbs. Over time, this accumulation damages the venous valves, causing elevated venous pressure and subsequent protrusion of veins above the skin surface. Statistics indicate that approximately 30% of women and at least 10% of men suffer from this condition. So, what is the optimal treatment for varicose veins? The following section addresses this question.

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What Is the Optimal Treatment for Varicose Veins?

1. Conservative Management

Conservative management is suitable for patients with mild symptoms of varicose veins. This approach primarily involves reducing daily physical activity—especially heavy manual labor—and wearing compression stockings regularly. During nighttime rest and sleep, the affected limb should be elevated to facilitate venous return. Additionally, brisk walking can effectively prevent or improve varicose veins by promoting venous blood flow back to the heart.

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2. Acupuncture Therapy

Acupuncture may be used to treat varicose veins. Specifically, acupuncture points along the meridians corresponding to the affected, distended veins are selected for treatment. Acupuncture can effectively alleviate swelling, pain, and aching sensations. For prominent varicose veins on the legs, fire needle therapy and blood-letting therapy may also be employed, significantly improving symptoms. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) represents another common therapeutic modality—typically involving herbal foot soaks—which substantially alleviates symptoms.

3. Surgical Intervention

Surgical treatment is indicated for more advanced cases of varicose veins. A commonly performed clinical procedure is microscopic nanofilament minimally invasive surgery, characterized by being virtually painless and involving minimal or no tissue trauma. Patients experience little discomfort and recover rapidly. Other conventional surgical options include sclerotherapy (injection of a sclerosing agent), endovenous laser ablation, and high ligation of the great saphenous vein.

The above outlines the optimal treatment strategies for varicose veins. Furthermore, patients are advised to avoid prolonged sitting or standing, as well as late-night activities, to prevent impaired circulation and venous compression. We hope this information proves helpful.

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What Causes Varicose Veins?

In general, varicose veins may result from prolonged standing or sitting, overweight or obesity, incompetent venous valves in the lower limbs, phlebitis of the lower extremity veins, or sequelae of deep vein thrombosis. If uncomfortable symptoms arise, it is advisable to seek timely evaluation and treatment at a reputable hospital. In daily life, avoid maintaining the same posture for extended periods, maintain a healthy weight, engage in regular lower-limb exercises, and promote venous circulation.