Varicose Veins and Elderly Adults
One of the most common leg vein problems for seniors is varicose veins.
Health problems due to varicose veins range from mild to severe, but seniors have a higher risk of complications. Because every case of varicose veins is different, it’s hard for a non-medical person to determine whether they are serious or not. That’s why family caregivers must always be on the lookout for new symptoms in their elderly loved ones and get them to a doctor for an exam.
What are Varicose Veins?
A person’s legs are a web of veins that carry blood to and from the heart. Some veins are deep inside the leg, while others are on the surface. When surface veins become abnormally wide, it results in a condition known as varicose veins. The wall of the veins weakens, making it harder for the valves to push blood upward and against gravity. When this blood pools in the legs, it makes it harder for oxygen-rich new blood to circulate.
Family members and senior care assistants can recognize varicose veins as enlarged, purplish-blue veins. They are often surrounded by smaller spider veins. If left untreated, varicose veins can cause serious health problems.
When blood vessels remain dilated for long periods of time, it can lead to symptoms like swelling and discomfort, itchiness, fatigue and inflammation. Over time and without treatment, varicose veins can lead to discoloration of the skin, stiffening of leg tissue, and spontaneous bleeding. In severe cases, varicose veins can lead to venous leg ulcers and deep vein thrombosis. It’s important for family caregivers and senior care assistants who notice varicose veins in an elderly person’s leg to get it checked out.
Prevention and Treatment of Varicose Veins in the Elderly
Typical treatments for varicose veins vary depending on the severity of the condition. There are minimally invasive techniques available that can effectively deal with the varicose veins. Some of the self-help treatments include wearing compression stockings, losing weight, elevating the legs and not sitting for long periods of time.
In more serious cases, surgery may be needed to take care of the problem. Fortunately, surgical treatment for seniors with varicose veins is usually an outpatient procedure or at least a single night stay at the hospital. By incorporating laser procedures in surgery, recovery is fast with minimal invasion.
Of course, the best thing that family caregivers and elderly adults can do about varicose veins is to practice good health habits that prevent them from forming or from getting worse. Diet and exercise are the two most important ways to prevent varicose veins, as is elevating the legs when sitting. However, elderly adults that are less mobile may have a hard time sticking to an exercise plan, so the other prevention methods become even more important. Family caregivers should support their elderly loved ones by doing what they can to spot them and then get medical attention for them as soon as possible.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Eufaula, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.
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