Can people with varicose veins in the lower extremities drink alcohol?

Written by Zhang Xue Min

Vascular Surgery

Updated on September 30, 2024

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The majority of patients with varicose veins in the lower limbs can drink alcohol in moderation, but should not drink excessively.

However, there is one circumstance where it is advisable to check carefully before deciding whether to drink alcohol. This is the case if there are severe varicose veins in both lower limbs and even some clearly visible dilated veins on the abdomen. In such cases, it's recommended to check the liver first. This is because the veins from the lower limbs join to form a vein called the inferior vena cava, which passes through the liver to return to the heart. If there is a problem with the liver, it may compress the inferior vena cava, causing varicose veins on both sides. In this situation, drinking alcohol could further damage the liver, potentially worsening the varicose veins.

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What should I do about varicocele?

The treatment methods for varicocele vary based on the severity of the condition. Clinically, some patients with varicocele show no obvious symptoms and it is only discovered during a physical examination. These patients can generally be observed temporarily, and can also wear tight underwear or use a scrotal support to alleviate the condition. However, some patients do exhibit clear symptoms, such as a significant sensation of heaviness in the scrotum, especially after standing or walking for long periods, where the pain becomes more pronounced. These patients generally need to consider surgical treatment, where the main procedure involves high ligation of the spermatic vein. This can help alleviate symptoms and also improve the quality of semen.

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Can venous varicosity be measured by CT?

Venous varicosities can undergo CT imaging, but generally, it's best to avoid injecting medication into the varicose veins. If the varicosities are in the lower limbs, a routine ultrasound examination is usually sufficient. To perform venous imaging with CT, medication is typically administered through the upper limbs. It moves through the general circulation, enters the arteries, reaches the peripheral tissues, and then flows back through the veins to allow imaging of the lower limb veins. This process is time-consuming, laborious, and costly; therefore, CT is generally not used to detect lower limb venous varicosities. However, CT can be used to examine venous abnormalities in other areas, such as problems with abdominal veins.

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Treatment methods for gastric varices

Gastric varices primarily refer to varices at the stomach base, often occurring in diseases characterized by portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis and as a complication of these gastric varices. For treating varices at the stomach base, if continuous hematemesis or vomiting blood occurs, there are several treatment options: The first is the injection of a sclerosing agent, which can achieve the purpose of hemostasis. Additionally, endoscopic ligation treatment can be considered. This method is very effective in preventing the rupture and bleeding of gastric varices. However, it is crucial to assess the overall status of the patient and determine whether liver cirrhosis can be prevented or treated.

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Written by Zhang Xue Min

Vascular Surgery

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Can you run if you have varicose veins in your lower legs?

Patients with simple varicose veins can run. The movement of muscles, especially during running when the calf muscles are active, can compress the deep veins, facilitating the emptying of these veins. This benefits the flow of blood in the superficial veins through the communicating veins back to the deep venous system, thus participating in the systemic circulation. Therefore, patients with varicose veins in the calves can still run in the majority of cases. However, there are exceptions. If a person experiences significant muscle pain, it is important to be cautious as there may be a thrombus in the muscle veins. If there is a thrombus in the muscle veins, and the return flow in the deep veins is obstructed, this may also cause varicose veins. In cases of fresh thrombosis, running might lead to the detachment of the thrombus. Thus, patients in such conditions are advised not to run until further evaluation is confirmed by an ultrasound examination.

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Written by Zhang Xue Min

Vascular Surgery

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Will varicose veins recur and have sequelae after surgery?

After varicose vein surgery, there may be a recurrence, and there may also be sequelae. The main reason for recurrence is that we only close off the varicose veins, but the causes that lead to varicose veins are not removed, such as some people having a family history, some being involved in long-term physical labor, and some being excessively obese. If these factors are not eliminated, the patient is very likely to relapse. The recurring veins may be some other nearby superficial veins that some surgical methods did not remove but merely closed locally. These veins might also reopen, and sequelae are possible. The most common sequelae include nerve damage, such as saphenous nerve damage, which is quite common with an incidence rate of about 14%. The main symptom is numbness near the inner ankle, which might improve over time. Some people feel discomfort at the surgical site on rainy or cloudy days shortly after surgery, and if the deep veins are damaged during surgery, more severe consequences may occur, including poor reflux in the deep veins and deep vein thrombosis, etc.