Varicose veins are associated with the inability to establish an effective return of blood to the heart. This is referred to as venous insufficiency. The condition affects millions of people of around the world. Venous dilatations usually occur from the lower extremity.
They are produced by an alteration of the venous valves located within the lumen of the vein, which allows the unidirectional flow of blood. In turn, this prevents the reflux of the blood. It is positioned on the periphery (retrograde venous reflux). The varicose veins form when the venous valves do not close well, then the blood begins to accumulate in the veins, thus resulting in dilations.
Varicose veins can be found in other sites, such as the esophagus (esophageal varices) and the anal region (hemorrhoids or piles, which are bulging veins in the area of the anus. When the disease reaches an advanced stage, they are seen with the naked eye from the outside or in testicles (varicocele).
Contributing factors
Some of the key factors that contribute to the development of varicose veins include obesity, sedentary lifestyle and standing for long hours. Obesity contributes to the problem resulting in thick veins in the legs. The problem may be corrected by draining blood from the veins before the problem worsens.
Sedentary lifestyle – the venous return pump is the plantar pad of the leg muscles. Sedentary lifestyle does not favour muscle contraction or the vitality of the plantar pad. Instead, it causes greater stagnation of blood and valvular overload, which facilitates the appearance of more varicose veins.
Standing for long hours – As in the case of sedentary lifestyle, there is little muscle exercise yet the return system requires motion against gravity. Doctors recommend lifting legs and keeping them up.
Varicose Vein Treatment Melbourne: Stages
The first phase sees the superficial venous system dilating progressively, but the progression may vary from one individual to another. This depends on factors, such as orthostatism (standing position), sedentary lifestyle and obesity. The second stage, on the other hand, the varicose veins begin to cause discomfort. Affected persons begin to feel fatigued due to prolonged orthostatism and heat, particularly in the afternoon.
The last phase is marked by absolute failure of the venous drainage regulation mechanisms, producing the extravasation of red blood cells into the interstitial space. Changes occur in skin colour, which becomes brownish due to hemosiderin. Inflammatory skin reactions also occur, which further increase the dystrophy
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