24 Oct 2024
Evolution is a fantastic thing, but varicose veins in African American or any other person in the world are one associated aspect that humans could have happily lived without. Sadly, the ability to stand and walk on two legs came with unhealthy and unsightly consequences. To think that beauty associated with the modern-day “selfie age” triggered a strong dislike towards such visual flaws is wrong. Humans have always been self-conscious regarding their varicose veins for many years now. And, as far as we know, treatments have always been there, too. Some of these treatments have been more elementary than others since 1550 BCE.
We are lucky that in today’s day and age, we have access to non-invasive medical techniques. Imagine, for a moment, living centuries ago with such vein issues. What would you have done? How would you have been treated? If you think you are unfortunate to get venous problems, read on to get a glimpse of the history. By doing so, you will find out what people back then went through prior to the dawn of modern medical procedures. You might just see your troubles in a different light. So, let us start with…
You might have stumbled upon this blog while researching your own issues. Of course, when you are going through a condition, it helps to know as much as you can about it for one’s own peace of mind. So, for a minute, let us review the basics. Varicose veins are:
Varicose veins are a result of increased blood pressure inside the superficial leg veins. There are two main types of veins, which are preset legs. They are either superficial veins (present near the surface of the skin) or deep veins (present in the muscle tissue). Varicose veins occur in superficial veins in the legs. On the other hand, deep veins lead to the vena cava, the longest vein in human body that transports blood back to the heart. Let us look at the brief history of how things were back then with venous issues!
So, how far have people come in the field of research and treatment of venous issues? And what did humans face when they required varicose vein treatment? The earliest record of varicose veins lies in the papyrus of Ebers, written in 1550 BCE. Here, the author labeled these veins as “solid and tortuous, having many knots, as if blown up by air” and suggested people leave their veins in place.
The first ever illustration of varicose veins dates back from 400 BCE – a votive tablet was found at the base of the Acropolis. It gives us an idea of just how long vein management have been troubling people. It was near the time that Hitimeates, the “Father of Medicine,” recommended people do something for their varicose veins. This was because he observed a correlation between leg ulcers and veins. This was the introduction of vein punctures, compression bandages, and cautery (using a caustic or hot agent) as treatment options.
Over the next few centuries, the developments in treatments varied a lot. In 270 BCE, two Egyptian physicians made it possible to conduct surgery through the innovation of forceps to block veins and eventually control bleeding. However, a breakthrough in surgical history fell around 0 CE. It was when the removal of a varicose vein was a lot for even a notorious Roman warlord. He got one leg done and chose not to have another one fixed. He did not think that the cure was worth the pain. Fortunately, in today’s time, more advanced varicose vein treatment are readily available with no downtime at all.
Generously, surgical developments in venous issue treatments continued. Around 600 CE, a Greek surgeon grasped that the great saphenous vein, one of the longest vein in the body, could be removed or ligated. Then, in 1485, a breakthrough development was when Leonardo da Vinci produced precise drawings of lower-limb veins. It helped the entire medical realm make sense of how the venous system actually works.
After about two centuries, da Vinci’s drawings were concentrated, the first documented attempt at “Sclerotherapy” took place. Acid was injected in order to create thrombus (a blood clot). This attempt set the scene for the 1800s, where a bunch of medical developments were made. Charles Gabriel Pravaz invested his injection syringe that was made using glass, leather, and rubber. Francis Rynd followed this invention with his hypodermic needle.
By the 1900s, modern trade tools were invented. Surgical processes were now being published and refined. Options included vein perforation to treat ulcers, vein ligations, and the application of a special agent to shut down the varicose veins. The links between vein congestion in the region and chronic pelvic pain were discovered, called “Pelvic venous insufficiency.” Sven-Ivar Seldinger figured out a method to access veins using guidewires.
The entire world entered the modern age of vein problem treatment in the 1960s. Treatments for vascular disease included using catheters, guidewires, stents, and angioplasty. If you have vascular problems these days, you are lucky to have surgeons with a number of cutting-edge treatment options at their disposal. More sophisticated and recent treatments tended to have impressive scientific titles, such as radiofrequency ablation, duplex ultrasound scanning, diode laser, and sclerotherapy.
Reading about all the treatments that were invented at different times brings us to the question: do you have a venous disorder that is bothering you? Perhaps your treatment might include a ClariVein device, which can be used without tumescent anesthesia. Asclera is also an option that can seal off smaller veins. And, of course, VenaSeal is another system that closes the veins with the help of an adhesive agent. If you are looking for genuine varicose vein treatment in New Jersey, then we suggest you contact our experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen. We know just the right treatment options for you. The days of the excruciating surgeries that even the Roman warlords were so terrified of is thankfully a thing of a very distant past. So, put your trust in us and let go of all your worries.