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Varicose veins: causes

Varicose veins are one of the oldest diseases of mankind, there are references to this disease in the works of Hippocrates, Avicenna and other founders of medicine. Expansion of venous pathways can occur in various parts of the body and organs that have large veins. The most common location is the legs, although it can also form on the stomach, testicles, and esophagus. To study the origin of the disease, we first consider the causes of varicose veins.

General information on varicose veins of the lower limbs

Varicose veins are due to an irreversible pathological expansion of the veins.The problem is caused by changes in the functioning of the valves responsible for blood circulation in the body, mainly in the lower limbs.

The normal functioning of the valves involves, upon relaxation or contraction of muscle fibers, the movement of blood up the structure. It is characteristic of the disease that the valves no longer close, the blood flow decreases, so the veins expand.

With varicose veins, the walls of blood vessels become thinner and weaker. The main problem is the lack of reversibility of the process, that is, even after the restoration of blood circulation, the walls do not return to their original position.

Particular attention is paid to the disease due to its wide spread, since 1 in 10 men and 1 in 3 women suffer from varicose veins in their 30s and 40s. The highest prevalence of the disease in Europe - up to 40% of the population, the lowest in Asia and Africa - about 0. 1%.

The main causes of varicose veins in men and women

Varicose veins on the legs

The causes of the development of the disease are very versatile and at first glance unrelated, but these causes are confirmed by research and are considered reliable. There are 6 main criteria for predisposition to varicose veins, which we will examine in detail.

There are also additional, less important reasons:

  1. Reduced immunity;
  2. Injuries to organs or lower limbs;
  3. Gender plays a rather large role, as statistics show - women are 3 times more likely to get sick.

hereditary predisposition

Varicose veins are a genetic disease

The causes of varicose veins should begin to be considered from genetics, since this cause affects a third of all patients.If the family has relatives susceptible to the disease, the risk of manifestation in the offspring increases to 70%.The reason is not so much in a family disease as in pathological changes in the structure of blood vessels, embedded in genes. Generally observed:

  • Inadequate valves, malfunctions in their work;
  • Connective tissue is present in the walls of the veins, it is likely to be underdeveloped.

For this reason, the disease can be found not only in adults, but also in young girls and boys, as well as in children. In men, the genetic predisposition causes the disease much less frequently.

Hormones

The reasons for the development of varicose veins are diverse, but among all the diversity, hormonal imbalance occupies a significant part.The causes of varicose veins in the legs in women are mainly manifested when:

  1. Pregnancy, childbirth;
  2. During menstruation or any failure thereof;
  3. climacteric stage;
  4. The use of drugs that affect the hormonal background of the body, especially in overdose.

In men, testosterone is considered the sex hormone, and in women, progesterone, the latter tends to negatively affect the walls of blood vessels, causing a lack of collagen. Ultimately, their tone and elasticity decreases, and the risk of varicose veins increases several times.

Inflammatory processes

Important prerequisites for the disease are inflammations, mainly in the organs located in the pelvis.Also, when the inflammatory process affects small veins, increased pressure is produced widely. During communications between arteries and veins, increased pressure is created, due to which the function of the valves may be defective. Due to the high pressure, the veins expand, the valves are unable to hold the reverse flow, which causes the formation of knots.

nerves

The tone in the vessels is controlled by the nerve endings. With a negative impact on the nervous system of external factors, the psycho-emotional state, the nerve center may not fully adjust the valves. Subsequently, the tone decreases and the volume of the vessels increases.

Sedentary lifestyle

It is this cause of varicose veins that is becoming widespread, some call it "computer science". Muscle fibers contract and release blood upwards, which is important for normal blood flow. When sitting, this does not happen, the metabolic rate decreases, respectively, the vessels expand. Also, the sitting position causes the blockage of certain veins.

When sitting, a person is in a slightly bent position, which causes high pressure in the abdominal region. In turn, from there the blood with great pressure goes to the legs, and the functioning of the valves is irregular in nature. Especially true for constipation, coughing, sneezing.

Physical exercise

Heavy loads cause varicose veins

Strong loads from the physical plane lead to an increase in pressure in the vessels.Most of the time, the problem is not in the hard work, but in the static loads, although the transfer of heavy loads often causes varicose veins.The main reasons are:

  1. Overweight;
  2. Pregnancy and childbirth;
  3. Movement with weight;
  4. Prolonged standing.

Treatment

Varicose veins in the legs should be treated, and in a timely manner, then it is possible to reduce the risk of aggravation of the situation and minimize the manifestations of the disease as much as possible.Treatment at the initial stages is carried out with the use of local drugs, after which, in the absence of treatment, surgical intervention may be required.

The causes of varicose veins of the legs and their elimination are considered comprehensively, depending on the type of onset and the stage of development of the disease. You can determine the best treatment option with the help of a specialist who will tell you the appropriate options, but there are no particular contraindications for drugs.

Creams and ointments

The advantage of using the cream is the ease of application and the effect only on the affected area of the body, and not on the whole body. Ointments help to eliminate pain, normalize muscle condition and prevent degenerative processes in the blood.

The causes of varicose veins in women are often hormonal in nature, while the cream acts locally, from the outside, so it is possible to obtain:

  1. At the right level of skin nutrition, it becomes more beautiful and healthier in appearance;
  2. Create obstacles to the development of trophic formations, deviations in metabolism;
  3. The venous disease ceases to progress, as the circulation of the blood is regulated;
  4. If varicose veins are accompanied by swelling, creams can eliminate them.

Medications

Preparations for the treatment of varicose veins

The causes of varicose veins on the legs are most often internal, so you need to treat them from the inside or in a complex way.

Medicines come in different types of effects on the course of the disease, the following groups are mainly distinguished:

  1. Phlebotonics - the main effect is to restore tone to the walls of blood vessels. It is considered the main group of prescribed drugs;
  2. Anticoagulants - prevent congestion in the blood;
  3. decongestants;
  4. Disintegrants - reduce the blood's ability to form blood clots.

Operation

Surgery to remove varicose veins

Varicose veins on the legs and other parts of the body have various causes, but whatever they are, the disease tends to progress. There are some facets, if the disease has spread beyond it, conservative treatment rarely has a positive effect. In extreme cases, you have to resort to surgery.

Today, there are different methods of surgery: laser, radiofrequency, miniphlebectomy, etc. Overall, it is possible to simply restore leg health or prevent the formation of foot disease.

Classification

The causes of varicose veins are different, and therefore the form of the disease is also different. It is generally accepted to distinguish several forms and 4 degrees of the disease:

  1. Descending form - the spread of the disease begins from above and gradually descends along the femoral vein, starting from the mouth;
  2. Ascending form - when symptoms initially start in the foot and gradually move up, this is due to problems with the valves.

The severity of the disease is conditionally divided into 4 categories:

  • 0 - the disease is at a stage when the diagnosis does not determine the pathology;
  • I - slight swelling appears, legs may feel heavy or "spider vein";
  • II - increased edema, especially in the evening, the skin changes color somewhat, eczema;
  • III - trophic ulcers, they may not be regenerated.

Danger and complications

Varicose veins on a man's leg, complicated with trophic ulcers

The causes of varicose veins can be individual, which cannot be completely cured, but therapy should always be carried out.. The main risk of the disease is the complications of varicose veins.Dangerous side effects:

  1. Trophic ulcers;
  2. Inflammations, especially of the erysipelatous type;
  3. Thrombophlebitis - increases the risk of blood clots.

Symptoms of varicose veins

Symptoms of the disease sometimes appear, sometimes weaken somewhat, but it is necessary to treat varicose veins in any case, without waiting for acute manifestations. You can recognize the disease by the characteristic symptoms:

  1. Heaviness in the legs, increased fatigue, especially often manifesting itself in the evening;
  2. The color of the veins becomes bluish and they bulge somewhat. Characteristic manifestation when, when the limb is raised, everything returns to normal;
  3. Over time, small nodules or conglomerates may appear;
  4. Swelling in the feet, ankles, shins, legs seem to burst, convulsions often appear;
  5. With the progression of the disease, dry skin is observed, and dark-colored seals are also formed;
  6. Trophic ulcers.

At what stage should a doctor be consulted?

The phlebologist deals with the treatment of varicose veins

The treatment of female or male varicose veins should be started as soon as possible.Usually the patient does not attach much importance to the primary manifestations, but they should not be ignored.

You should contact a phlebologist immediately after detecting the main symptoms of the disease - feelings of fatigue and increased heaviness in the legs, as well as changes in skin color, swelling, etc. To determine the cause of the disease, they often turn to other specialists: a general practitioner, a gynecologist and a neurologist.

Diagnosis of the disease

The diagnosis can only be made on the basis of a complete diagnosis:

  1. Complete blood count - checks the level of blood clotting and the presence of inflammation;
  2. Ultrasound examination - detects affected vessels;
  3. Rheovasography - determination of the level of tissue nutrition, used to determine the stage of varicose veins;
  4. Venography - a contrast agent is used to study the patency of veins;
  5. Physiological tests - the function of the valves is checked.

Forecasts and preventive measures

A quick visit to the doctor will help eliminate the symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins are part of irreversible processes, so full recovery is almost impossible to achieve.With a timely visit to the doctor, correct diagnosis, preventive measures and treatment, it is quite possible to remove the symptoms.

Prevention is fairly standard:

  1. Healthy lifestyle;
  2. Healthy food;
  3. Elimination of bad habits;
  4. If you stay in the same position for a long time, do not cross your legs;
  5. Perform exercises, warm-up;
  6. Periodically use the services of a massage therapist;
  7. Wear comfortable clothes as often as possible.

Many no longer pay due attention to the disease, although such negligence can cost the health of the whole organism. To prevent the development of varicose veins, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations at all stages and carry out prevention.