Varicose veins; Causes, treatment, and prevention
Varicose veins, also called varicose veins, are not seen in most cases. But they are not just a problem of appearance and beauty, but varicose veins are a medical problem and can cause health problems.
Varicose veins can only cause minor pain and swelling or lead to blood clots, bleeding, and sores in their most severe form.
Causes of varicose veins:
The job of the artery is to return blood from the whole body to your heart. There are one-way valves inside the arteries that help send blood flow from the legs to the heart. These small valves can be opened and closed. But if, for some reason, these valves become weak and can not close properly, blood collects in the arteries and puts pressure on them, causing the arteries to enlarge and swell.
The legs are more prone to varicose veins than other parts of the body because these places do the hardest work against gravity.
For many people, the weakening of the valves inside the arteries and the resulting varicose veins are inherited.
Other factors that can increase this likelihood include:
Inactivity
The calf muscles act like a pump, pumping blood upwards, so if you sit or stand for long periods, a lack of pumping movement will cause blood to collect in the legs.
extra weight
Being overweight can disrupt blood flow in the large arteries above your body and affect the arteries in your legs, which is why varicose veins sometimes occur during pregnancy.
Something is blocking the blood flow upwards.
Physical obstruction, such as a blood clot, can block blood flow from the legs upwards.
Age
With age, the valves inside the arteries may not work for young people, which is another risk factor for varicose veins.
Gender
Unfortunately, women are prone to varicose veins due to the hormonal changes they experience. Taking birth control pills can also increase this risk.
Pregnancy
Your growing fetus not only puts pressure on your bladder but also puts pressure on the veins in your legs. Fortunately, in this case, the arteries usually heal within three to 12 months after delivery.
What problems can varicose veins cause?
Varicose veins are not just physically annoying. When blood collects somewhere and does not flow, there is a possibility of blood clots forming. Blood clots can cause serious health problems, especially if they sink deep into a blood vessel and travel to the lungs.
Varicose veins can also bleed, especially in older people whose skin is thin and weak. Varicose veins can bleed with a minor injury, and trauma to the foot can cause bleeding and even put the person in an emergency.
The skin around the varicose veins may become inflamed because the small blood vessels in the skin may be damaged, and damage to the arteries may heal the skin and, in more severe cases, cause sores.
How can the deterioration of varicose veins be prevented?
exercise regularly
The leg muscles are the largest in your body. These muscles help the arteries carry blood to the heart. In addition, your muscles work against gravity when you exercise, which is why leg exercises help prevent varicose veins.
If you are overweight, lose weight.
If you are obese or overweight, you will put more pressure on your legs. Excessive weight loss prevents the formation of new varicose veins. In addition to preventing varicose veins, weight loss has numerous other benefits and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Do not sit still for a long time.
Today’s jobs require you to sit for hours at a time. Remember to stand and walk at least once every half hour because this causes the leg muscles to carry blood to the heart, which is less likely to sit.
Do not wear tight clothing.
Wearing tight clothing, especially around the waist and legs, puts a lot of pressure on your legs, making varicose veins worse.
Do not hang your legs.
At any time, it may be necessary to place your feet flat on a chair or a high surface so that blood can return to your heart more easily. Be sure to follow this, especially if you have to sit or stand for hours because of work.
Wear varicose socks or tights
You can wear varicose socks or tights. Varicose socks help return blood to the heart by squeezing the ankle and lower leg.
How are varicose veins treated?
In the past, varicose vein management was always chosen instead of therapeutic interventions because the only treatment intervention option for varicose veins was relatively invasive.
The calf muscles act like a pump, pumping blood upwards, so if you sit or stand for long periods, a lack of pumping movement will cause blood to collect in the legs.
But today, there are many invasive techniques, which is why doctors favor the early treatment of varicose veins with these methods.
The first step in treating varicose veins is to identify the cause. These veins are a sign of another problem and are not a disease in themselves. Your doctor will usually use an ultrasound to determine which arteries are feeding the varicose veins and if something is blocking them.
The source of your problem and your circumstances play a role in choosing the course of treatment, but treatments can include the following:
Sclerotherapy: A chemical is injected that stimulates a blood vessel inside, causing it to rupture and destroy these unwanted blood vessels. The rest of the degenerated blood vessels are absorbed by the body.
Thermal ablation: Thermal ablation is similar to sclerotherapy, but in this method, the vessel burns with laser or high-frequency radio waves.
Treatment of varicose veins with glue: Again, varicose veins are removed unintentionally and injecting a special glue.
Surgery: Surgery is done to remove all the varicose veins.
