From the article you will learn that varicose veins are hereditary, and there are also reasons why the pathology can develop in ordinary people.
What are varicose veins
Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a chronic deformation of the veins, most often of a hereditary nature, with persistent dilation of the lumen of blood vessels, decrease in vascular tone, destruction of the valvular apparatus, alteration of regional blood supply, pain syndrome and constant doughiness of the tissues.
Where do dilated veins come from?
Normally the blood, which supplies oxygen to organs and tissues and removes waste carbon dioxide from them, travels from the periphery to the heart, overcoming gravity.For this, assistants are needed, which are the leg muscles, capable of acting as a sort of pump, contracting during the movement, which moves the blood higher and higher.An equally important role is played by the valves of the veins, which block the backflow of fluid, hermetically blocking the lumen of the vessels.Blood flows through the vessels only in one direction.
If for any reason the functioning of the valves is disrupted, a gradual deformation of the veins is formed: blood overflows from the vessels, causing them to stretch and deform.As the pathology progresses, trophic ulcers and blood clots may form in the area of the affected veins.
Varicose veins of the legs among women and men are quite common, in 50% of all vascular patients over the age of 18.At the same time, the number of patients with varicose veins is growing every year.The reason is the sedentary nature of professional activity.
The main cause of varicose veins in men and women is a genetically inherited weakness of the connective tissue that makes up the structure of the veins.Its failure leads to loss of vascular tone, stretching of the walls and deformation.If parents had enlarged veins under the skin, both their children and grandchildren are at risk of developing varicose veins.The disease is inherited through the female line: the sex chromosome X is associated with a gene that weakens the venous wall.
Of great importance are hormonal changes in the body typical of women: menstruation, menopause, taking contraceptives, pregnancy, breastfeeding.Men are also subject to hormonal imbalances, but much less frequently and after the age of 40.Jumps in female hormones: estrogen and progesterone - relax the venous wall, leading to its deformation.
Another cause of varicose veins is prolonged standing or sitting in a static position.In this case, the valves of the veins open and a persistent increase in intravascular pressure occurs.In addition, the longer the legs, the greater the column of blood in the vessels, which means a risk factor for the development of varicose veins.
Excess weight also does not contribute to vascular health.Excess weight increases pressure in the veins of the legs and fat deposits, especially in the abdominal area, interfere with the normal outflow of blood.
Physical inactivity stimulates the formation of varicose veins in the lower limbs.In addition, the risk group of varicose veins includes smokers, pregnant women and patients with cardiac and vascular pathologies.Surgeons, teachers, cashiers, salespeople, drivers, programmers, flight attendants and shippers suffer from occupational varicose veins.
Separately it is worth mentioning the effect of alcohol on the veins.Of course, any alcohol expands the vascular lumen, including red wine.In other words, this is another factor that predisposes to varicose veins.With regular consumption of alcoholic beverages, varicose veins are inevitable, it's just a matter of time.Also, if there is a hereditary predisposition to venous insufficiency.There are no gender differences in this matter.
Main signs of the disease
The first symptoms of varicose veins appear in the early stages of the disease: the legs begin to tire quickly, begin to swell, the veins become painful, the legs cramp at night, a feeling of heat and heaviness appears in the legs.
Sometimes this picture persists for decades until visual signs of venous insufficiency develop: doughy ankles and legs in the evening, itchy skin, tortuous veins protruding above the skin, bluish in color, dense.Over time, trophic ulcers resistant to therapy appear.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
In addition to disturbing trophism, varicose veins threaten the development of thrombophlebitis - when blood clots in the veins can detach from the walls, block the lumen of the arteries, obstruct the pulmonary vessels and cause AMI with fatal outcome.
Venous thrombosis: blockage of the lumen of a vein with a thrombus causes severe pain, does not allow free circulation and can cause tissue necrosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE): Blockage of the pulmonary artery due to a detached blood clot leads to death within the next half hour.A small blood clot can cause a pulmonary infarction, requiring resuscitation.The condition is accompanied by pneumonia and CHF.
Is it possible to cure varicose veins?
Answer: yes, but only surgically.There are three modern methods of alleviating the problem: phlebectomy - complete removal of the deformed vein, sclerotherapy - injection of a special sclerosing agent into the affected vessel, which glues the walls of the vein, excluding the vessel from the blood flow and emptying it without cosmetic defects on the skin, laser coagulation - destruction of the vein with heat and sealing of the lumen (practiced when the diameter of the vein does not exceed 10 mm).
Prevention
- regular leg exercises during prolonged sitting;
- a balanced diet based on tomatoes, carrots, olives, apples, blueberries;
- prevention of constipation;
- adequate rest, especially for women who need three times more time to recover;
- correct intake regime: 40 ml of water per 1 kg of weight.
Swimming is useful when you spend little time in the sun, minimizing stressful situations.