RB Wellness Centre

12/03/2024

Varicose veins are a common condition, affecting up to 23% of adults globally. Characterized by enlarged, swollen, and twisting veins, often appearing blue or dark purple, they are not just a cosmetic issue but can also lead to discomfort and various health complications if left untreated. This post aims to offer a comprehensive guide on varicose vein care, including prevention strategies, lifestyle changes, and available treatments.

Understanding Varicose Veins

Varicose veins occur when your veins become enlarged, dilated, and overfilled with blood. This condition is most common in the legs and feet, due to standing and walking upright, which increases the pressure in the veins of the lower body. For many people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern, but for others, they can cause aching pain and discomfort. Sometimes varicose veins lead to more serious health problems.

Prevention and Lifestyle Changes

Prevention is always better than cure, and this holds true for varicose veins. There are several ways to prevent varicose veins or stop them from worsening if you already have them:

- Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves blood circulation in the legs, helping to push along the blood that has collected in the veins. Exercises that target the legs, such as walking or cycling, can be particularly beneficial.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Excess weight puts additional pressure on your veins, which can lead to varicose veins or exacerbate existing ones.
- Avoid Prolonged Standing or Sitting: Changing your position frequently helps to encourage blood flow. If your job requires you to stand or sit for long periods, try to take regular breaks to move around.
- Elevate Your Legs: When resting or sleeping, elevate your legs above the level of your heart to improve circulation.
- Wear Compression Stockings: These stockings apply gentle pressure to your legs, helping veins and leg muscles move blood more efficiently.

Medical Treatments

When lifestyle changes are not enough to alleviate the discomfort of varicose veins, or if you're concerned about their appearance, there are several medical treatments available:

- Sclerotherapy: A common treatment for varicose and spider veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution into the vein, causing it to scar and blood to reroute through healthier veins. The collapsed vein is reabsorbed into local tissue and eventually fades.
- Laser Treatments (CLACs): Strong bursts of light are directed onto the vein, making the vein slowly fade and disappear. Lasers are very accurate and can be targeted very specifically to the affected veins.
- Endovenous Ablation Therapy: Using heat from lasers or radiofrequency, the varicose vein is sealed shut. This is a minimally invasive procedure that has become more common as an alternative to surgical options.
- Vein Stripping: This involves removing a long vein through small cuts in the skin. This procedure is less commonly performed now due to the success of less invasive treatments.
- Ambulatory Phlebectomy: Small punctures are made to remove smaller varicose veins. This procedure is less invasive and leaves minimal scarring.

Self-care

In addition to lifestyle changes and considering medical treatments, self-care is a crucial aspect of managing varicose veins. Here are some tips:

- Hydrate Well: Adequate water intake is essential for maintaining healthy blood viscosity and circulation.
- Nutrition: A diet rich in flavonoids can help reduce the risk of varicose veins. Foods like vegetables, fruits, especially berries, citrus fruits, and cocoa, contain flavonoids that can improve blood circulation and reduce blood pressure in the arteries, easing the workload on the veins.
- Avoid Tight Clothing: Tight clothing can restrict blood flow. Choose loose-fitting clothes to improve circulation.
- Mind Your Feet: Opt for flat shoes over high heels. Flat footwear can help tone your calf muscles, better assisting blood flow through your veins.

The Importance of Consultation

If you're concerned about varicose veins, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can offer personalized advice and treatment options. In some cases, varicose veins can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as deep vein thrombosis. Therefore, professional evaluation is crucial.

Conclusion

Varicose veins can be more than just a cosmetic issue; they can also lead to discomfort and significant health problems. However, with the right preventative measures, lifestyle changes, and treatments, it's possible to manage this condition effectively. If you're dealing with varicose veins, remember that you're not alone and there are many resources and healthcare professionals ready to help. Prioritizing your vein health is a step toward overall well-being and a better quality of life.

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15/01/2023

Improving your diet is one of the best ways to keep your brain sharp, healthy and young. Harvard nutritionist and brain expert Dr. Uma Naidoo shares her favorite foods for boosting memory and focus.

22/10/2022

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11/10/2022

Quitting Doctors: The New Phenomenon
©️ Dr. Rajas Deshpande

“I am reducing my practice now. I have already stopped admitting cases” one of my colleagues told me during the coffee break. I wasn’t surprised, as it was the fourth time this week some doctor had said that to me.

He is an excellent physician, I know he has saved hundreds of lives. I understood him, despite the terrible thing he had just said.

“It’s not the hard work. I passionately love solving medical cases, and feel inner happiness when a patient is cured or relieved of suffering. But I don’t feel the same affection and compassion now for the patient or relatives- because whatever good I may have done in the past, their assessment and behavior is always suspicious, screwing me for each word I say, cross examining every decision with their knowledge scales. It is not my job to teach everyone and bring them at par with all medical knowledge and wisdom. If I admit a patient, they start treating me as if they own me - like a slave- even if their breakfast is late they will start calling, write bitter messages or write complaints and expect written apologies- hardly acknowledging the importance of concentration and time limitations of doctors. Even when the patient comes back from deathbed, they tend to write negative reviews because the hospital couldn’t give them bill concessions to their satisfaction, or the insurance companies declined their case. One cannot expect respect now a days from anyone, but the disrespect is uncalled for- the tone of relatives, even when I try to save their patient, is like hidden threatening, disbelief and over expecting. After slogging for so many decades I don’t think I deserve this. I will now choose which cases I will treat, based upon whether they are well behaved or abusive.”

“The threats of media defamation loom high, however hard working and honest a doctor has been. It’s all at the mercy of one dissatisfied relative or patient, without a chance to explain or sue them back. I don’t want it now. I haven’t slept well for decades. I have decided that I need good sleep, timely food and rest- exactly what I have advised thousands- to be able to function well”.

“Now, when arrogant, ill-behaved relatives approach me with goonish tendencies and language, when even the highly educated come with polished threats and higher expectations with bargaining attitude, I give the case a pass. I wish them well and refer them to the low cost centers which is their primary concern. I am not open for abuse or bargain “.

He was right. irrespective of what payments are offered, many responsible, experienced and highly qualified, skilled doctors have started to wind down their work to minimize the abuse they face. Treating admitted patients is a pleasure, but dealing with over expectant relatives who want daily explanations of everything without the ability to grasp things is now impossible. Everyone brought to the hospital may not get better in spite of best efforts. The moment something goes wrong, it is presumed to be the doctor’s fault or negligence, and right from litigation to violence, anything can happen.

Fortunately, there are some trusting, well behaved decisions by the right person can save lives. For those we will always be available, as is our innate wont.

©️ Dr. Rajas Deshpande

Please share unedited

03/10/2022

WE SUPPORT AVIN DAYANAND
A young and upcoming surgeon with a bright future, was dealt a terrible blow on 26 August 2022 when he was arrested for murder and placed in a jail cell in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The charge was related to a patient that he treated in 2019 who subsequently died. At that time, two post-mortems were carried out on the deceased patient, as well as an inquest into the patient's death. No charges were laid against Dr Dayanand. The matter was reported to the HPCSA and Dr Dayanand responded in full to the enquiry from the HPCSA. No charge was laid against Dr Dayanand by the HPCSA.
The family of the deceased then proceeded with a civil case against Dr Dayanand. This matter is still awaiting trial.
We are seeing an increase in doctors being manhandled by the general public when they feel that they did not get justice.
Dr Dayanand will be appearing in Richards Bay Magistrates court on Tuesday 4 October 2022. If you are a medical doctor, please consider supporting Dr Dayanand by being at the Richards Bay Magistrates court at 08h00 on 4 October 2022.

03/09/2022

https://soundcloud.com/radioislam/kzn-surgeon-charged-with-murder-following-the-death-of-a-patient?si=8d0e4ae094dc478fbc70f118ed90f1c9&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&fbclid=IwAR18VqhaaHufjK4PJ1khqlQ-pJCrluYpstvs1UbKIhO6SjC7_oZZrawxWUk

The South African Private Practitioners Forum has condemned the arrest of a KwaZulu-Natal surgeon for murder saying the matter is still pending before HPCSA

03/09/2022

WE SUPPORT AVIN DAYANAND

A young up and coming surgeon with a bright future, was dealt a terrible blow on 26 August 2022 when he was arrested for murder and placed in a jail cell in Richards Bay, KwazuluNatal, South Africa. The charge was related to a patient that he treated in 2019 who subsequently died. At that time, two postmortems were carried out on the deceased, as well as an inquest into the patient's death. No charges were laid against Dr Dayanand. The matter was reported to the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Dr Dayanand responded in full to the enquiry from the HPCSA. No charge was laid against Dr Dayanand by the HPCSA.

The family of the deceased then proceeded with a civil case against Dr Dayanand. This matter is still awaiting trial.

We are seeing an increase in doctors being manhandled by the general public when they feel that the justice system is not working fast enough for them.

Professor Beale and Dr Munshi were subjected to this manhandling in 2019/2020. They were eventually found not guilty by an SA court of law. Yet Dr Munshi was subsequently assassinated (even before the not guilty verdict), and Professor Beale has gone into hiding, fearing for his life! Please refer to the IOL article. (https://tinyurl.com/yz8z7vp8)

In 2020, at Nu Shifa hospital, Ethekwini a female OBGYN was assaulted by a group of family members of a patient who had just demised. Please see article. https://tinyurl.com/s2cs56ds

If you feel that this lawlessness does not have a place in our country, please sign the petition and forward to as many of your friends and colleagues to do the same. Please note that this petition relates specifically to Professor Beale and Dr Munshi, however the issue is the same. Rather than start a new petition for each incident, we have decided to use the same petition to support Dr Dayanand. We are at around 85 thousand votes. If you have already signed this petition before, please forward it to as many of your contacts as possible and include the explanation above. Please encourage as many people as possible to sign this electronic petition.

Thank you for your consideration.

https://chng.it/7wLbnCSX

28/08/2022

People, beware of those who contact you unsolicited via Facebook claiming to be experts in social media and content creation.

14/08/2022

This video explains why varicose veins form. The underlying problem is valves which no longer work properly.

31/05/2022

Absolutely amazing!