Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a common disease in vascular surgery, which refers to the elongated, sinuous and varicose state of the superficial venous system of the lower extremities. Congenital weakness of the vein wall, venous valve insufficiency and increased pressure in the superficial veins are the main causes of superficial varicose veins. The incidence is 8-15%.
In addition to affecting the aesthetics of legs, varicose veins are often sore, swollen and painful at the beginning of the disease; at the end of the disease, the damaged veins are bulging, dilated and tortuous, with the saphenous vein in the lower leg being the heaviest. The long duration of the disease often has skin atrophy, flaking, itching, pigmentation, skin and subcutaneous tissue hard knots, and even eczema and ulcer formation, sometimes can be complicated by bleeding and thrombophlebitis.
Predisposed population.
1.People with family history of the disease.
2, people older than 50 years old.
3, women, especially those who have given birth more often and those who have taken oral contraceptives for a long time.
4, long standing work, more than 6 hours a day, such as teachers, surgeons, nurses, hair stylists, counter customer service, chefs, restaurant waiters, etc.
5, obese, thin and tall body type and other patients are high risk group of varicose veins.
Common causes.
1, engaged in frequent standing workers such as teachers, salesmen, etiquette ladies and staff who need to stand for a long time, due to the effect of gravity, so that the blood pressure is greater on the venous valve, in the long run, so that the function of the venous valve is impaired, the blood can not return to the normal flow and the disease.
2.Pregnant women Pregnancy, the uterus increases, compressing the iliac vein, causing the pressure in the vein to increase, and varicose veins occur; at the same time, the increase of blood flow in the pelvis during pregnancy, affecting the blood return to the lower extremities, is also one of the factors of morbidity.
3, pelvic tumor patients pelvic tumor and enlarged lymph nodes compress the iliac vein, causing increased venous pressure in the lower limbs, and varicose veins are easy to occur.
4, the elderly and congenital weakness of the vein wall The elderly vein wall began to degenerate, the valve function is also weakened; congenital weakness of the vein wall, the vein lack of elasticity, easy to relax, the vein pressure increases, the lumen expansion, causing the venous valve atresia incomplete, blood downward backflow, venous pressure increases, so the vein first enlarged, and then extended bend into a venous nodule.
Because the venous blood in our legs must overcome the gravitational force to return upward, long-term high pressure state, blood flow if long-term interference, blood will be stagnant in the calf because of gravity, so the calf varicose veins are also the most serious. In addition to the bruises, varicose veins also cause darkening and pain in the calves, and in severe cases, inflammation, ulceration, bleeding, foot edema and nighttime cramps on the skin surface.
Medicine cannot cure varicose veins, internal medicine and topical medicine can reduce the discomfort and superficial inflammation, but they hardly work to eliminate varicose veins, if you don’t want surgery, it is better to wear medical compression stockings. For women in pregnancy, patients with early mild varicose veins and patients with poor general condition who can hardly tolerate surgery, medical compression stockings can prevent the formation of deep vein thrombosis in addition to improving the symptoms of varicose veins and slowing down the development of varicose veins. Elastic stockings do not cure varicose veins or prevent their aggravation, but they can be used as an allopathic treatment and as an adjunct to other therapies. The usual pressure used is 20-30 mmHg.
Surgery is the only means to eradicate varicose veins in the lower extremities!
The traditional classical procedure is the high saphenous vein ligation and segmental stripping.
Newer procedures include: saphenous vein trunk stripping and varicose vein searing; endovenous laser treatment; varicose vein spinotomy, etc.
People who are engaged in long term physical work or standing work should preferably wear elastic stockings regularly for protection. For those who have a family history of varicose veins in the lower extremities, it is best to pay attention to proper exercise in adolescence with a view to strengthening the whole body and the vein walls.
Measures to prevent varicose veins include.
1, eliminating factors that may increase abdominal pressure, such as chronic cough, constipation, etc.
2.Improving labor conditions and reducing labor intensity.
3.Treating external pressure diseases, such as pelvic tumors
4.Avoiding excessive obesity, which increases the pressure on both feet.
5.Sleeping with the feet slightly elevated to help blood flow to the heart
6.Lifting the lower limbs slightly when sitting down to promote blood circulation.
7, avoid standing for a long time or sitting for a long time, usually more walks to stretch the muscles and bones.
8, diet attention to eat more fruits, vegetables, hooves and other foods rich in vitamins and collagen to enhance the elasticity of the blood vessel wall.