From the article, you will learn that varicose veins are inherited, and there are reasons why pathology can develop in ordinary people.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins of the lower limbs are a chronic deformation of the veins, most often of a hereditary nature, with permanent expansion of the lumen of the vessels, reduced vascular tone, damage to the valve apparatus, regional blood supply disorders, pain syndrome and constant tissue pastiness.
Where do varicose veins come from?
Normally, the blood, which supplies the organs and tissues with oxygen and removes excess carbon dioxide from them, overcomes gravity and travels from the periphery to the heart.This requires assistants, which are the muscles of the leg, which can contract as a kind of pump during 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, tightly closing the lumen of the vessels.Blood only flows in one direction through the blood vessels.
If the function of the valves is interrupted for any reason, a gradual deformation of the veins is formed: the blood overflows the vessels, causing them to stretch and deform.As the pathology progresses, trophic ulcers and blood clots may develop in the area of the altered veins.
Varicose veins of the legs are quite common among women and men, in 50% of vascular patients over the age of 18.At the same time, the number of patients with varicose veins is increasing every year.The reason for this is the sedentary nature of the professional activity.
The main cause of varicose veins in men and women is the genetically inherited weakness of the connective tissue that forms the framework of the veins.Its failure leads to loss of vascular tone, elongation and deformation of the walls.If the parents had dilated veins under the skin, then both children and grandchildren have a chance of developing varicose veins.The disease is inherited through the female line - a gene linked to the sex X chromosome that weakens the vein wall.
Hormonal changes in the body characteristic of women are of great importance: menstruation, menopause, taking contraceptives, pregnancy, breastfeeding.Men are also prone to hormonal imbalance, but much less often and after 40 years.The surge of female hormones: estrogen and progesterone - relaxes the vein wall, which leads 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 permanent rise in intravascular pressure occurs.Moreover, the longer the legs, the higher the blood column in the blood vessels, which is a risk factor for the development of varicose veins.
Being overweight also does not contribute to the health of the vascular system.Excess weight increases the pressure in the veins of the legs, and fat deposits, especially in the abdominal area, prevent 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 cardiovascular pathology.Surgeons, teachers, cashiers, salespeople, drivers, programmers, flight attendants and loaders all suffer from occupational varicose veins.
It is worth mentioning the effect of alcohol on the veins.Of course, all alcohol expands the lumen of blood vessels, including red wine.In other words, this is another factor that predisposes to the development of varicose veins.With regular consumption of alcoholic beverages, varicose veins are inevitable, it's just a matter of time.Moreover, if there is a hereditary tendency to venous insufficiency.There is no gender difference in this matter.
The main signs of the disease
The first symptoms of varicose veins appear in the early stages of the disease: the legs tire quickly, begin to swell, the veins become painful, the legs cramp at night, and the legs feel hot and heavy.
Sometimes this picture persists for decades until visual signs of venous insufficiency develop: mushy ankles and feet in the evening, itchy skin, tortuous veins protruding above the skin, bluish in color, dense.Over time, trophic ulcers appear that are resistant to therapy.
Why are varicose veins dangerous?
In addition to disrupting trophism, varicose veins are at risk of developing thrombophlebitis - when blood clots in the veins can break away from the walls, block the lumen of the arteries, block the pulmonary vessels, and cause a fatal AMI.
Venous thrombosis - blockage of the lumen of the vein with a thrombus causes severe pain, prevents free movement, and can cause tissue necrosis.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) - blockage of a pulmonary artery due to a dislodged blood clot leads to death within the next half hour.A small blood clot can cause a pulmonary infarction that requires 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 for alleviating the problem: phlebectomy - complete removal of the deformed vein, sclerotherapy - injection of a special sclerosant into the affected vessel, which glues the vein wall together, excludes the vessel from the blood stream and evacuates it without cosmetic defects of the skin, laser coagulation - destruction of the vein, as the diameter of the vein with heat and sealing.
Prevention
- regular exercises for the legs during prolonged sitting;
- balanced diet based on tomatoes, carrots, olives, apples, blueberries;
- prevention of constipation;
- adequate rest, especially for women who need three times as much time to recover;
- correct drinking order: 40 ml of water per 1 kg of weight.
Swimming is useful if you spend a short time in the open, minimizing stressful situations.