Exploring the association between sudden limb exposure to temperature alteration following an exertion with varicose vein & chronic venous disease - A case control study

The pathological stagesof Chronic venous disease have been evaluated with a range of pathologicalconditions in Ayurveda such as Siragranthi (venous abnormalities), Raktavarita vÄta (disorders of vÄta occludedby rakta~ blood),Apana Vaigunya (vitiatedapÄnavÄyu),Arsha (hemorrhoids), Vata Rakta (rheumatism due to rakta), Kushtha (integumentary disease), and Dushta Vrana(putrified wound)depending upon the presentations of the patient.

Siragranthi mentioned in ayurvedic texts ideally explains thevarious venous abnormalities and specifically varicose veins. There are variousrisk factors hypothesised for the development of varicose veins such asobesity, prolonged standing & sitting, constipation and pregnancy1.But no theory has been proposed as the causative factor for its structuralmodification of veins and its complications. Astanga Hrdaya hasspecifically mentioned that a person after any type of exertion like walking orexercise when suddenly washes or dips his legs in water will affect the sirawhich further undergoes structural changes and results in siragranthi(cyst like venous abnormalities  ~varicose veins)2. It can be understood that when the veins aredilated during exertion will get contracted by sudden exposure of cold water.Continuous practice of this will lead to loss of elasticity of venous wallswhich results in venous wall collapse. This cause can be extrapolated tocurrent scenario as a sudden limb exposure to temperature alteration following an exertion. Thiscase control study is aimed to study this association with the development ofvaricose vein and subsequently chronic venous disease.