Consequently, a large number of people with varicose veins often urgently seek a vascular surgeon in order to get rid of the particularly annoying and sometimes dangerous symptomatology.

“Many sufferers of venous insufficiency come in the summer complaining of leg pains that do not go away, a feeling of heaviness and excessive fatigue, severe itching and a particularly persistent burning sensation. These symptoms make their daily life very difficult, even unbearable, and often make treatment imperative.

The risk of thrombosis due to venous insufficiency becomes clear that it intensifies much more in the summer. In no case, therefore, should it be neglected and dealt with late. The summer is not a contraindication for the treatment of venous insufficiency and this is the reason why sufferers should be encouraged to proceed with the definitive solution of their problem”, points out Mr. Konstantinos N. Xiromeritis MD, PHD, MSC Vascular surgeon – Doctor of the University of Athens, Director of the 4th Vascular Surgery Clinic-Intraluminal Laser for Venous Diseases Metropolitan General.

Venous insufficiency and summer months

But let’s see what exactly happens in the venous network of the lower extremities during the summer months. “Further expansion of the veins is caused, with the result that the blood, due to the intense reflux, does not easily return to the heart and pools in the lower extremities. In order to compensate for the problem, the venous network becomes overworked and the valves inside certain veins lose their effectiveness.

In addition, the venous strain is great due to the significant decrease in moisture caused by the intensity of solar radiation in the outer layer of the skin, resulting in the loss of elasticity of the venous network and problematic blood circulation,” explains the expert.

In a period of high temperatures also, those suffering from venous insufficiency should avoid prolonged and excessive standing, hot water in the bathroom and exposure to sunlight without protection.

The risk of thrombosis

As the symptoms of venous insufficiency become more and more bothersome with a significant worsening during the summer, the risk of thrombosis increases proportionally.

Thrombosis is the formation of a clot within the venous network, which makes it difficult for blood to circulate or completely blocks it, which triggers a series of symptoms.

“In most cases, the thrombosis involves the superficial (superficial) venous network and causes various local symptoms such as hardness and intense redness of the skin and usually mild pain. In those cases where the thrombosis extends to the internal (deep) venous network (deep venous thrombosis or DVT), in addition to the particularly acute clinical picture, the risk of a more serious complication, pulmonary embolism, that is to say detached a piece of the clot and with the blood flow reaching the pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary embolism is a particularly serious and critical pathological condition, extremely threatening even for the patient’s life,” he emphasizes.

There are signs to recognize

“Several times patients ignore the first signs of thrombosis, as a result of which it develops over time and leads to very dangerous situations, potentially threatening the life of the sufferer. “Symptoms from the upper respiratory tract are often observed which can make us suspect a possible thrombosis such as pain during inhalation, coughing, rapid pulse or even a feeling of fainting,” the expert points out.

Immediate treatment of varicose veins with Intraluminal Laser in the summer

“Treatment can and must be carried out without delay even in the summer. It is natural and completely understandable to have individual misgivings regarding the time period, but those with varicose veins should know that intraluminal laser treatment is a painless, minimally invasive technique, with an excellent functional and aesthetic result. The patient is able to stand up, walk and eat normally immediately after the operation. He fully returns to his daily life from the same day and is not limited at all in terms of his activities. The progression of the condition stops, his legs immediately feel much better, he has no varicose veins, he is not at risk of possible blood clots, feeling absolutely safe with the restoration of his health” concludes Mr. Xiromeritis.