Varicose veins are enlarged veins. They occur when blood has pooled in the vein because a valve or valves in the vein has failed to keep blood flowing back to the heart correctly. The heart pumps nutrient and oxygen filled blood from itself through arteries to the rest of the body. Blood returns to the heart through veins, less the oxygen and nutrients, with the help of valves that open and shut to encourage the blood flow. When one or more of the valves weaken, which happens frequently with pregnancy due to the increase in blood volume, blood pools in the area. This causes the vein to bulge and appear on the surface as ropey, blue, or red, or even skin tone varicose veins. Most often varicose veins are found on the calf or inner leg. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins located at the anus or vaginal area.

Spider veins are similar to varicose veins, only smaller. They also appear red or bluish in color. Spider veins look like spider webs (hence, their name) or maybe tiny roadways on a map. Like varicose veins, spider veins can be caused by pooled blood, but also can be from too much sun, hormonal changes, or genetic factors. For the most part, spider veins appear on the face and legs. Both varicose and spider veins are very common. 55% of women and 45% of men have some vein problem, half the people over 50 have them.

Risk Factors for Varicose & Spider Veins

• Born with weak veins
• Genetic predisposition
• Increasing age
• Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Taking birth control pills
• Taking various medications
• Taking estrogen or progesterone
• Obesity
• Leg injury
• Standing on your feet for long periods of time
• Sun exposure

Health Problems Associated with Varicose & Spider Veins

Spider veins usually do not need medical attention, although a dermatologist can remove them. However, varicose veins often get larger and worsen over time. Some of the health problems caused by varicose veins are:

• Irritation, swelling and painful rashes
• Skin tissue around varicose veins can develop sores or skin ulcers
• Severe pooling of the blood which slows the return of blood to the heart
• Blood clots
• Severe infection

Warning Signs of Spider & Varicose Veins

• Numbness in the legs
• Swelling in the legs
• Easily tired legs
• Leg heaviness
• Itching or irritated rash
• Darkening of the skin in sever cases

Varicose Vein Treatment & Spider Vein Treatment

Consider this question: Have my varicose veins become swollen, tender, warm to the touch, or very tender?
If the answer is yes to any of these, see your doctor. He will use x-ray or ultra sound to determine the severity of the problem. There are doctors who specialize in phlebology. Some treatments your doctor will consider are:

Sclerotherapy

In this, the most common treatment for varicose veins, the doctor injects a solution into the vein, causing it to swell, stick together, and then seal shut. This stops the flow of blood and the vein turns into scar tissue. The vein should fade within a few weeks. You can expect to return to normal activity immediately after the treatment. Special solutions and particular injection techniques makes the treatment of spider veins very affective also. There are some possible side effects:

• Small groups of tiny red blood vessels around the site that usually disappear
• Brownish lines around the site that also disappear
• Temporary stinging or painful cramping at the injection site
• Small sores at the injection site, they disappear
• Some bruising
• Red patches on the skin
• Lumps of clotted blood that disappear
• Inflammation

Applying heat to the treated area, as well as taking an over-the-counter pain reliever should take care of most of the discomfort.

Laser Surgery

Laser treatments are very successful against spider veins. Laser ‘surgery’ sends very strong bursts of light onto the vein. The vein will slowing fade and disappear. There is no need to use needles or make incisions with laser treatment. However, the laser does get hot and can be quite painful, lasting up to 20 minutes. Generally, spider veins require 2 to 5 treatments. Just as with sclerotherapy, normal activity can be resumed directly after the laser treatment. There are some possible side effects:

• Skin discolorization that disappears with 2 months
• Some swelling and redness that disappears within a few days
• Burns and scars can result, but it is rare, and usually means the
  treatment was poorly executed.

Endovenous Techniques (radio frequency and laser) – These methods for treating deeper varicose veins of the legs have been a huge breakthrough. They have replaced surgery for the vast number of patients with severe varicose veins. The technique is not very invasive and can normally be done in the doctor’s office.

A very small catheter is put into the vein. Radio frequency or laser is pushed through the catheter (a small tube), which shrinks and seals the vein. The normal flow of blood passes through the healthy veins around the treated area. Varicose veins on the surface of the skin that are connected to the treated veins will also shrink after treatment. The possible side effect is bruising.

Varicose Vein Surgery

Types of surgery reserved for very large varicose veins are:

Surgical Ligation and Stripping

This surgery requires either a local or general anesthesia and must be done in an operating room, but can be done as an outpatient. With this treatment the veins are tied shut and removed from the leg (the most common area where varicose veins are found). Blood circulation is not affected as the deeper veins in the leg take the blood flow.

Possible side effects of varicose vein surgery are:

• If a general anesthesia is used, there is always a risk of heart or breathing problems.
• Permanent scarring
• One to four weeks painful recovery time
• Bleeding
• Nerve tissue damage around the treated area. This can cause numbness, and burning.
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Swelling and redness
• Deep vein clots
• Painful recovery

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

General or local anesthesia is used. Usually only one treatment is required and only a small scar may be left. Tiny incisions are made in the skin and surgical hooks are used to pull the vein out of the leg. Normal activity can resume the day after the treatment. The only side effects are slight bruising and temporary numbness.

Endoscopic vein surgery

This treatment requires general anesthesia, epidural, or a spinal anesthesia. A very small camera is used to inspect inside the veins. A tiny incision is made and the veins are removed. After a few weeks, the patient can resume normal activity.

After treatment, can varicose or spider veins return?

Though these treatments have been highly successful, after a few years it is possible for the varicose or spider veins to return. Weak vein valves are to blame.

What can I do to protect myself from getting varicose and spider veins?

The most important thing you can do to ward off varicose veins from getting so bad that treatment is required is to wear graduated compression support stockings as much as possible during the day.

No related posts.

Call your doctor or midwife immediately if you:

• Are bleeding or leaking fluid from the vagina
• Have sudden or severe abnormal swelling in the face, hands, or fingers
• Get severe or long-lasting headaches
• Have discomfort, pain or cramping in the abdomen
• Have a fever or chills
• Are vomiting or have persistent nausea
• Feel discomfort, pain or burning with urination
• Have problems seeing or blurred vision
• Feel dizzy
• Sense a change in your baby’s movement
• Suspect your baby is moving less than normally after 28 weeks of pregnancy ( if you count less than 10 movements in 2 hours or less)

No related posts.

For many women, pregnancy increases their sex drive. For others, it has the opposite effect. And almost all women need to try different positions when they start to get large bellies.

If you have problems during your pregnancy or have had miscarriages in the past your doctor may suggest you avoid sexual intercourse.

Call your doctor if you have any of the following problems during or after sexual intercourse:

• Pain in the vagina or abdomen
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Leaking of fluid from the vagina

No related posts.

Try these tips to prevent and ease leg cramps:

• Eat lots of low-fat, calcium-rich foods.
• Get regular, mild exercise, like walking. Or try prenatal yoga.
• Ask your doctor if you should be taking a prenatal vitamin containing calcium. If you also experience heartburn or indigestion, taking an antacid like Tums helps with the burn as well as adds the needed calcium.
• Gently stretch the muscle to relieve leg and foot cramps. If you have a sudden leg cramps in your calf, flex your foot towards your body. If you have sudden leg cramps in your shin, point your foot away from you.
• Use heating pads or warm, moist towels to help relax the muscles and ease leg and foot cramps.

No related posts.

Tips to ease breathing include:

• Take deep, long breaths.
• Maintain good posture so your lungs have room to expand.
• Use an extra pillow, or buy a special pregnancy pillow and try sleeping on your side to breathe easier at night.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals. The additional space the food takes up may give your lungs even less room to expand

If you suffer from asthma (even before pregnancy), inhalers are generally safe to use as directed during pregnancy. But as with all medications, check with your doctor and make sure your asthma medication is safe for you.

No related posts.

Not sure what varicose veins are? They appear as swollen veins raised above the surface of the skin, typically appearing twisted or bulging and are dark purple or blue in color. Most often it’s common to get varicose veings on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg.

Try these tips to reduce the chances of varicose veins:

• Avoid tight knee-highs or garters.
• Sit with your legs and feet raised when possible.
• Sleep on your left side. This will relieve pressure on blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.

No related posts.

In the third trimester, exhaustion often sets in again. However, as your belly grows bigger, sleeping often tends to become more difficult for many pregnant women. In addition, the bathroom runs, the baby’s movements, kicks and turns, and an increase in the body’s metabolism might interrupt or disturb your sleep. Leg cramping can also interfere with a good night’s sleep.

Try these tips ensure a better nights sleep:

• When you are tired, get some rest. That’s probably easier said than done, but give it a try. Perhaps, if you are working outside the home, you can take a nap during your lunch break.
• You should plan on 8 to 9 hours of sleep during the night.
• Buy a pregnancy pillow. They are especially made with pregnant women’s sleeping problems in mind.
• Try a pregnancy wedge. This “pillow for your belly” will wedge in between your belly and the mattress making sleep much more comfortable especially once your belly starts growing in the 3rd trimester.
• Sleep on your left side. This relieves pressure on blood vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.
• Always try to lay on your left side if you have high blood pressure.
• Get some exercise. If you are not in the habit of exercising regularly, do not start a strenuous routine now. Walking is a good and safe form of exercise, even for a beginner.
• It may sound counter productive, but if you are taking long naps during the day, make the naps shorter. Too much sleep during the daytime can make getting to sleep at night more difficult.
• Three hours before bedtime, avoid eating a large amount of food. If necessary, eat a light, healthy snack or beverage.

No related posts.

During pregnancy, approximately 50% of women get hemorrhoids. The good news is that there are steps you can take to improve hemorrhoids, and hemorrhoids usually improve after delivery.

Hemorrhoids are more common during pregnancy for many reasons. During pregnancy there is a huge increase in the amount of blood in the body which can cause veins to enlarge. The expanding uterus also puts pressure on the veins in the rectum. In addition, constipation can make hemorrhoids worse.

Follow these tips to help prevent and relieve hemorrhoids:

• Drink lots of fluids to keep hydrated
• Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods like whole grains, raw or cooked leafy green vegetables, and fruits; or try a fiber supplement
• Try not to strain for bowel movements
• Try a sitz bath: soak your bottom in warm water
• Try over the counter suppositories and/or medicated wipes for hemorrhoids
• Talk with your doctor before taking any laxative
• Talk to your doctor about using witch hazel or ice packs to soothe hemorrhoids

No related posts.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

• Women who have a normal weight before getting pregnant should gain between 25 to 35 pounds during their pregnancy.
• Women who are underweight before pregnancy should gain 28 to 40 pounds during their pregnancy.
• Women who are overweight should gain 15 to 25 pounds during their pregnancy.

Research shows that women who gain more than the recommended amount of weight during their pregnancies have a higher chance of being obese 10 years later.

However, each woman is different and each pregnancy is different. Some women who gain more weight during their first trimester often see a slowed weight gain during the 2nd trimester and therefore still gain the recommended amount of total weight for pregnancy. Ask your doctor how much weight gain would be healthy for you during pregnancy. Also, speak with your doctor about gaining weight steadily, and how much weight you should expect to gain during each trimester.

Related posts:

1. Dieters Beware: Dieting Before Pregnancy Boosts Prenatal Weight Gain Were you a dieter before you were pregnant? If so,...

Additionally, women who suffered from allergies before pregnancy may find that pregnancy exacerbates their allergies. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing allergies during your pregnancy to find out what medications are safe to take during pregnancy to control allergy symptoms.

To ease nosebleeds, blow your nose gently. Stop nosebleeds by squeezing your nose between your thumb and finger for a few minutes. If you have nosebleeds that do not stop in a few minutes or happen often, see your doctor.

Tips to Prevent Nasal Problems During Pregnancy:

• Drinking additional amounts of water for hydration
• Gently blow your nose
• Using a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom may help relieve nasal stuffiness while you sleep
• Talk with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicines for colds or nasal stuffiness

No related posts.