In Section 1, you learned about the venous system and how the vein valves adi in moving blood against gravity toward the heart. You also learned when a vein wall becomes incompetent for any reason, the fragile valves may become damaged and do not close properly. This can build a high pressure in the vein resulting in reverse blood flow or "reflux". This reverse flow can cause swollen, dialated, twisted veins that bulge out in the skin. These veins are knows as varicose veins.
Varicose veins are a sign of an underlying venous insufficiency disorder.
The great saphenous vein (part of the superficial vein system) is most commonly affected and often, the varicosity starts at the thigh and winds its way down the leg to the foot. When symptoms are present, the patient may experience ankle and leg swelling, heaviness or fullness, aching, restlessness, fatigue, pain, cramps and itching.
How prevalent is the disorder?
Vein problems are among the most common chronic conditions in North America. The most common vein disorder is varicose veins. According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, as many as 40 million Americans have varicose veins. Statistics further show that 15% of men and 25% of women have varicose veins. In fact, more people lose work time from vein disorders than from arterial disease. (Vascular Disease Foundation Newsletter, Spring 2005, Vol. 5, No. 2).
Types of varicose veins
There are two types of varicose vein classifications – primary and secondary. The risk of developing primary varicose veins is frequently associated with:
- heredity
- jobs involving prolonged standing
- pregnancy
- hormonal factors
- obesity
- increasing age
- history of chronic venous insufficiency
Secondary varicosities are a direct result of deep vein occlusions, such as a blood clot. This occlusion causes pressure and extension of the vein walls which then causes the venous valves not to close properly causing reverse flow. This reverse flow, as you learned previously, contributes to the bulging of the veins.
Varicose veins during pregnancy
Pregnancy and the hormonal changes that take place in a woman’s body contribute to the development of varicose veins. Approximately 30% of women pregnant for the first time and 55% of women having two or more pregnancies having two or more pregnancies develop varicose veins. (Swiss Medical Weekly 2001:131: 659-662).Increase in blood volume, hormonal changes and pressure of the fetal head in the pelvis causing pressure against a vein and its valves often increase the chance of developing varicose veins. While varicosities may subside after delivery, with each subsequent pregnancy, they are far less likely to completely disappear.
Wearing SIGVARIS compression hosiery during pregnancy can substantially help prevent the development of varicose veins.
Note: Only your physician will be able to assess your condition and prescribe the most effective treatment.
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