Varicose vein treatment protects against secondary diseases

Not an optical problem, but a medical one: varicose veins are symptoms of vascular disease. If treatment is delayed for too long, there is a risk of serious complications.

Anyone who suffers from varicose veins or Varices sufferers often initially view this as more of a cosmetic problem. However, they not only affect the quality of life, but represent a serious illness. The cause is inherited or lifestyle-related vascular changes.

Most often, superficial veins are affected, as their valves no longer work correctly. Normally, the venous valves open like sails to prevent blood from flowing back. If the connective tissue is weak or there are other changes in the vessel wall, the venous valves no longer close properly. The direction of blood flow is reversed.

The blood accumulates, the pressure increases and the veins become permanently overstretched. The result is what are known as primary varicose veins. The increased pressure affects more and more venous valves until the pressure is so high that fluid is pressed into the surrounding tissue. Visible signs are edema in the feet and legs.

Varicose veins do not regress on their own

Varicose veins are one of the most common diseases. Up to 50 percent of all Germans are affected by a mild form, and up to 15 percent have advanced disease. There are differences between the sexes: women are affected three times more often than men.

“Varicose veins do not disappear on their own. There is also no medication for varicose veins. Anyone who notices varicose veins on their legs should seek treatment as soon as possible,” advises Dr. Reinhold Lunow.

The internist and medical director of the practice clinic for diagnostics in Bornheim near Cologne and Bonn knows the possible complications and long-term effects: "Varicose veins increase the risk of suffering a spontaneous and even life-threatening bleeding. The risk of so-called thrombophlebitis, an inflammation of superficial veins, which can lead to thrombosis and thus to pulmonary embolism, Heart attack or Stroke can come."

Varicose veins usually appear as twisted veins or as a ball under the surface of the skin. They do not only occur in the legs. Varicose veins can also occur in the testicles, in the vagina, in the area of ​​the stomach and esophagus (esophageal varices) or as a venous network around the navel. Often there is a disease of the liver perish.

In contrast to primary varicose veins, secondary varicose veins develop as a result of another disease. For example, Thrombosis or a tumor in the abdominal area, neighboring veins become constricted. In such a case, the body returns the blood to the heart via other veins. There, too, the increased blood flow leads to overstretching of the veins.

risk factors for varicose veins

Risk factors for varicose veins include:

• inherited weakness or changes in the structure of vein walls and venous valves,
• Age, as the veins lose their elasticity with increasing age,
• lack of exercise,
• Smoking, which generally impairs blood circulation,
• Hormones and pregnancy, as the female sex hormone estrogen impairs the elasticity of the vascular walls, the pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes the vein walls,
• overweight, which increases the pressure on the leg veins,
• too tight clothing and high heels that hinder the work of the veins,
• other diseases such as right heart failure, venous thrombosis, liver cirrhosis.

How to prevent varicose veins

"This makes a healthy lifestyle and measures that promote the functionality of the veins all the more important," says Dr. Lunow. "For example, if you stand or sit a lot at work, you should definitely make sure you balance things out so that the blood doesn't pool in your legs."

Endurance sports such as cycling, swimming or Nordic walking are particularly suitable here. Caution is advised with some weight training exercises or sports with abrupt stopping movements such as tennis or badminton - these put additional strain on the venous system. Alternating showers and cold water applications are also useful as they stimulate blood circulation. On the other hand, hot baths and long sunbathing should be avoided as heat stretches the veins.

Different types of varicose veins can be distinguished, which often occur simultaneously: so-called spider veins in very small vessels with blue-reddish branches; reticular varicose veins, which appear like a net; side branch varicose veins on the inside of the thigh and lower leg; trunk varicose veins on the two main leg veins with veins often as thick as a finger in the area of ​​the thigh and lower leg, shin and calf.

Initially, varicose veins cause little discomfort

Varicose veins often appear before the first symptoms appear, such as a feeling of heaviness, tiredness or tension in the legs. If you put your leg up or move it, the symptoms usually subside. Foot or calf cramps occur at night. Swelling in the lower legs or ankles is also common.

A burning or stabbing pain usually occurs as the disease progresses. Brownish skin discoloration occurs on the legs, which often feel excessively warm and itch severely.

Pain-free varicose veinDiagnosis in the Bornheim practice clinic (Cologne/Bonn)

Some symptoms, such as swollen legs, are very non-specific and can be caused by other diseases such as heart failure or impaired kidney function. This makes a thorough physical examination necessary, combined with imaging procedures.

The Praxisklinik Bornheim near Cologne and Bonn To do this, you rely on the color Doppler sonography"With this painless and risk-free ultrasound examination of the leg vessels, we can detect vascular changes and circulatory disorders in the early stages," says Dr. Lunow. "The sooner the diagnosis can be made and treatment can begin, the sooner complications can be avoided."

Depending on the stage of the disease, different measures can be taken to treat varicose veins:

• Exercise therapies to support the calf muscles and thus the return flow of blood;
• Cold water applications to promote the elasticity of the veins;
• Compression therapies with compression stockings and/or bandages that compress the leg veins and reduce edema;
• Sclerotherapy of the affected veins;
• Heparin ointments to counteract blood clotting and prevent thrombosis;
• Natural remedies and medications to relieve symptoms: Venous tonics activate the veins and strengthen their elasticity; anti-edema agents reduce the permeability of the vein walls;
• Surgery with partial or complete removal of the affected veins, for example in the case of varicose veins of the main or side branch veins.

(Image: hriana/fotolia.com)