Recommend
Official site Neoveris

Varicose veins: causes

Varicose veins is one of the oldest diseases of humanity, 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 in the stomach, testicles, and esophagus. To study the origin of the disease, we first consider the causes of varicose veins.

General information about varicose veins of the lower extremities

Varicose veins occur due to irreversible pathological expansion of the veins.The problem is caused due to changes in the functioning of the valves responsible for blood circulation in the body, especially in the lower extremities.

The normal functioning of the valves implies, at the moment of relaxation or contraction of the muscle fibers, the movement of blood back to the structure. It is characteristic of the disease that the valves no longer close, the outflow of blood decreases, so the veins expand.

With varicose veins, blood vessel walls 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.

Special attention is paid to the disease due to its wide distribution, as 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 - approximately 0. 1%.

The main causes of varicose veins in men and women

Varicose veins in 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 consider in detail.

There are also additional, less significant reasons:

  1. Reduced immunity;
  2. Lesions in organs or lower extremities;
  3. Gender plays a very important role, as evidenced by statistics - women are 3 times more likely to get sick.

hereditary predisposition

Varicose veins are a genetic disease

The causes of varicose veins should start to be considered from genetics, as this cause is in 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 lies not so much in a familial disease, but in pathological changes in the structure of blood vessels, built into the genes. Generally observed:

  • Inadequate valves, malfunction 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 girls and boys, as well as children. In men, genetic predisposition causes the disease much less often.

hormones

The reasons for the development of varicose veins are diverse, but among all the diversity, hormonal imbalance occupies a large 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 phase;
  4. The use of drugs that affect the hormonal background of the body, especially with overdoses.

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, your tone and elasticity decrease and your risk of varicose veins increases many times over.

inflammatory processes

Important prerequisites for the disease are inflammation, especially in the organs located in the pelvis.In addition, when the inflammatory process touches small veins, increased pressure is produced in a broad way. When communications between arteries and veins are created, an increase in pressure is created, due to which the function of the valves can be defective. Due to the high pressure, the veins expand, the valves cannot contain the reverse flow, which causes the formation of knots.

nerves

The tone in the vessels is controlled by 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, tone decreases and vessel volume increases.

sedentary lifestyle

It is this cause of varicose veins that is becoming more widespread, some call it "computer". Muscle fibers contract and cause blood to flow upwards, which is important for normal blood circulation. In the sitting position, this does not happen, the metabolic rate decreases, respectively, the vessels dilate. In addition, a sitting position causes blockage of some veins.

When sitting, the person is in a slightly bent position, which causes high pressure in the abdominal region. In turn, from there, 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 physical plane loads lead to increased pressure in the vessels.Mainly the problem is not hard work, but static loads, although transferring heavy loads often causes varicose veins.The main reasons are:

  1. overweight;
  2. Pregnancy and childbirth;
  3. Movement with weights;
  4. Prolonged standing.

Treatment

Varicose veins in the legs must be treated and, in a timely manner, it is possible to reduce the risk of aggravation of the situation and minimize the manifestations of the disease as much as possible.Treatment in the early stages occurs through the use of local medications, after which, in the absence of therapy, surgical intervention may be required.

The causes of varicose veins of the legs and their elimination are considered comprehensively, based on the type of occurrence and stage of development of the disease. You can determine the best treatment option with the help of a specialist who will indicate suitable options, but there are no special contraindications to medications.

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, not the entire body. Ointments help to eliminate pain, normalize muscle condition and prevent degenerative processes in the bloodstream.

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 achieve:

  1. The proper level of skin nutrition makes it more beautiful and healthy in appearance;
  2. Creating obstacles in the development of trophic formations, deviations in metabolism;
  3. Venous disease stops progressing as the blood circulation gets in order;
  4. If varicose veins are accompanied by swelling, creams can eliminate them.

Medicines

Preparations for the treatment of varicose veins

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

Drugs come in various types of effects in the course of the disease, mainly the following groups are distinguished:

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

Surgery

Surgery to remove varicose veins

Varicose veins in the legs and other parts of the body have many causes, but regardless of them, the disease tends to progress. There are certain facets, if the disease has spread beyond them, conservative treatment rarely has a positive effect. In extreme cases, you must resort to surgical intervention.

Today, there are several methods of surgery: laser, radiofrequency, miniphlebectomy, etc. In general, it is possible to simply restore the health of the legs or prevent the formation of foot diseases.

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 starts from above and gradually descends along the femoral vein, starting in the mouth;
  2. Ascending form - when symptoms initially start in the foot and gradually go up, the reason for this is problems with the valves.

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

  • 0 - the disease is at a stage where the diagnosis does not determine the pathology;
  • I - a slight swelling appears, it may seem that the legs are heavy or "spider vein";
  • II - increased edema, especially at night, the skin changes a little color, eczema;
  • III - trophic ulcers, non-regenerable.

Danger and complications

Varicose veins in a man's leg, complicated by trophic ulcers

The causes of varicose veins can be individual, which cannot be completely cured, but therapy must still be carried out.. The main risk of the disease are complications from varicose veins.Dangerous side effects:

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

varicose veins symptoms

Symptoms of the disease sometimes appear, sometimes they weaken a little, 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 manifested at night;
  2. The color of the veins becomes bluish and they swell a little. A characteristic manifestation when, when lifting the limb, everything returns to normal;
  3. Over time, small nodules or conglomerates may appear;
  4. Swelling in the area of the feet, ankles, shins, the legs seem to burst, seizures often appear;
  5. With the progression of the disease, dry skin is observed and dark colored seals also form;
  6. Trophic ulcers.

At what stage should you see a doctor?

The phlebologist deals with the treatment of varicose veins

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

You need to contact a phlebologist immediately after detecting the main symptoms of the disease - feeling 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.

Disease diagnosis

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

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

Forecasts and preventive measures

Timely visit to the doctor will help to remove the symptoms of varicose veins

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

Prevention is quite normal:

  1. Healthy lifestyle;
  2. Healthy food;
  3. Elimination of bad habits;
  4. If you stay in one position for a long time, don't cross your legs;
  5. Perform exercises, warm-up;
  6. Periodically use the services of a masseuse;
  7. Wear comfortable clothes whenever possible.

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