Varicose Veins
Although we typically associate varicose veins with women, both men and women can acquire these lumpy, dark-colored, bulging veins (usually blue or purple). In fact, according to the Department of Health and Human Science, between 50 and 55 percent of women and 40 to 45 percent of males in the U.S. have some form of vein issue, with about half of all adults aged 50 and older having varicose veins.
They tend to develop over time as someone ages and veins lose their natural suppleness due to rising levels of inflammation and liver congestion, and they're a prevalent problem among elderly or pregnant women due to hormonal factors.
Varicose vein treatment options "range from conservative (e.g., medications, compression stockings, lifestyle changes) to minimally invasive (e.g., sclerotherapy or endoluminal ablation), to invasive (surgical techniques), to hybrid (combination of 1 therapy)," according to a report from 2012 that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
According to a paper from 2007 that was published in the Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, more than half of individuals treated for varicose veins will experience some recurrent varicose sites within 10 years of surgery.
Varicose veins are always a sign of a condition called venous insufficiency. Whether or not you have additional symptoms like pain or edema, this is true. Before surgery or other treatments are ever considered, you might be recommended to make certain lifestyle changes if you consult a dermatologist or other medical professional about your treatment options. These come with a number of benefits, including increased energy, smoother skin, better heart health, and improved digestion, and they can significantly reduce blood pooling in your veins. The best part is that using natural therapies carries little to no risk and costs much less than having surgery.
Are spider veins and varicose veins the same thing?
Despite the frequent confusion between these two words, there are some differences between the two skin ailments. Although their causes are relatively similar, their appearances do not completely match.
Telangiectasias, often known as spider veins, typically appear as tiny lines or web-like patterns. Since they frequently manifest as several dark dots clustered together in one region, usually on the skin's surface, spider veins are also referred to as "starburst clusters."
Spider veins typically appear on the legs, backs of thighs, calves, ankles, and feet, just like varicose veins do. Since they are found on the superficial layers of the skin, spider veins are typically less painful and less prone to induce symptoms than varicose veins. Reticular veins, which are bigger than spider veins but smaller than varicose veins, are another comparable ailment.
Varicose Veins Causes
The deoxygenated blood that is stored in varicose veins is what gives them their blue color. Since any vein can become varicose, they most frequently appear on the legs, particularly the thighs and calves, however they can also occasionally be found on the face, stomach, or lower back.
Who has the most varicose veins?
The following individuals are most likely to develop varicose veins, according to the Interventional Radiology & Surgery Department at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania:
1. the elderly, particularly those over 40;
2. Overweight or obese individuals
3. Individuals who spend a lot of time sitting or standing up, which causes blood to "pool" in the legs or decrease blood flow.
4. people who have sedentary lifestyles and engage in little physical activity
5. Those who have poor circulation and high levels of inflammation due to poor food, Liver congestion and diseases, inactivity, limb injuries, hormonal changes, and other factors
6. Inequalities and a lot of stress
7. women who are expecting or have just given birth
8. Women on birth control tablets, menopausal women, or adolescents going through adolescence
9. those who have a family history of varicose veins
10. Those with fair skin who have had extensive sun exposure and skin aging
People who have varicose veins occasionally battle with symptoms including fatigue, muscle aches, and "heavy limbs" in addition to the development of unattractive veins.
The majority of dermatologists will inform you that although the process by which varicose veins form is well established, there is no one explanation for them. Veins stretch out and fill with sluggish blood, which is the fundamental cause of varicose veins. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, these veins continue to grow as a result of gravity and may eventually lengthen, twist, bag, thicken, and become painful.
Normally, a network of arteries and capillaries transports blood from the heart to numerous cells throughout the body. The blood then travels through veins, which typically only allow for one-way blood flow, to return to the heart. Muscle contractions aid in the constriction of veins, which returns blood to the heart (one reason regular exercise is beneficial for circulation).
One-way valves in veins prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction; but, in varicose veins, some of the blood starts going backward, which results in swelling. Poor circulation is a result of weak vein valves, while it is unclear why some people's valves fail more frequently than others.
The walls of the veins stiffen and lose part of their natural elasticity as varicose veins begin to form, making it more difficult for the veins to adequately pump blood back to the heart.
Varicose veins frequently appear around deep or perforated veins because they develop where valves stop functioning properly. One of the major subcutaneous veins in the legs that frequently cause varicose veins is the great saphenous vein, also known as the long saphenous vein. Venous insufficiency, a condition where blood pools in some veins, leads to the vein enlarging as the blood remains stagnant and the vein hardens.
The following risk factors are some of the underlying causes of this blood-pooling process:
1. Studies suggest that women are more prone than males to acquire varicose veins as a result of hormonal impacts, such as pregnancy or menopause. It is believed that female-dominant hormones, notably during pregnancy, puberty when taking birth control pills, or throughout the transition into menopause, tend to relax the veins more frequently and increase the likelihood of blood leakage. Additionally, pregnant women produce more blood to support the developing fetus and are therefore more prone to blood pooling in the legs or close to the stomach as it struggles to defy gravity and pressure.
2. Vein structural defects that are congenital
3. Veins that are irritated or have blood clots in them
4. Vein damage, heart disease, or a blockage that prevents regular blood flow
5. weight growth: If a person suffers increased inflammation together with weight gain, circulation may slow. In addition, as a person's body weight increases, the pressure on their veins increases.
Varicose veins are typically a cosmetic problem that doesn't contribute to more severe health issues because they usually don't create symptoms. Only a minor amount of blood pools in the veins; the majority of blood is still being returned to the heart. Instead, consider them a warning indication that something is interfering with normal blood flow.
Varicose veins can occasionally rupture, leading to problems like swelling and open skin sores. The most frequent uncomfortable symptoms include muscular aches or swelling in the ankles and legs, which can make it difficult to work, exercise, or walk normally.
Some people, particularly pregnant women, can end up with skin ulcers, itching, cramping, heaviness or fullness in the legs, restlessness, exhaustion, and thickening and discoloration of the skin. Additionally, there is a slight possibility that varicose veins could trigger thrombophlebitis, in which case prompt medical attention would be required.
Solution:
https://www.seedsofchangemk.com/store101/p/liver-and-gallbladder-rescue
https://www.seedsofchangemk.com/store101/p/time-to-detox
RESOURCES:
https://www.nature.com/nrneurol/
2022. Malika Katrouche. All Rights Reserved.
