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Varicose
veins
"25% of people who are in an active age
suffer from varicose veins, 1% of the population
will develop an ulcer during their lifetime
and 3% will suffer from thrombosis".
Thus Dr. Santos Gastón, Vascular and
Phlebology Surgeon, affirms in many articles.
The repercussions that this theme has on our
health, our social life and our health system
are  impressive.
However, on many occasions this illness is
only considered a cosmetic concern which prevents
us from showing off beautiful legs in summer.
We only pay attention to it when it’s
too late… However, it’s a potentially
serious ailment, which can involve heavy legs,
cramps, itches, continuous pain, it can even
lead to more harmful consequences. This is
why it is important to cure it before it is
too late.
Formation:
Varicose veins are the external manifestation
of an illness, called venous insufficiency,
which affects the thigh, leg and foot veins.
Varicose veins form because of a poor functioning
of the valves of the leg veins. These valves
open in order to allow blood to pass to the
heart and they close in order to prevent it
from flowing in the opposite direction. When
these valves don’t close correctly an
increase of pressure arises within the affected
veins which makes their walls dilate and a
blood clot is produced. Varicose veins can
lead to very serious consequences such as
phlebitis or thrombosis.
Types:
Not all varicose veins are the same. They
can be classified according to the place where
they occur and according to their size:
 According
to the location:
• Troncular veins. These affect any of
the main leg veins (surface veins).
• Recticular veins. These are small, thin
varicose veins which can be found anywhere
on the lower extremities and which do not
correspond to surface veins.
• Intradermal Venectasia veins. These
are thin, venous ramifications, either violet
or red, and whose importance is basically
aesthetical.
According to size:
• Varicules or spider veins. These are
similar to the intradermal venectasia veins
and only present an aesthetical problem, although
on certain occasions they can produce feelings
of heaviness and tiredness in the legs.
• Medium-sized varicose veins (3-4mm).
This type of varicose veins can be worrying.
Normally, they can produce very painful, superficial
phlebitis.
• Large varicose veins (>5mm). They
require medical treatment because, apart from
producing unbearable pains and forming ulcers,
and can have dangerous consequences such as
provoking thrombosis due to lack of blood
circulation.
Signs and symptoms:
The visible signs are obvious: enlarged, elevated
veins, visible beneath the skin of the legs;
greyish-coloured ankles or calves.
 Regarding
the symptoms: ulcers on the skin of the ankles;
heaviness in the legs; swelling; tautness;
night clamps; discomfort in the legs; heat
sensation; pain; and general discomfort.
Treatments:
• Surgery.
• Sclerotherapy.
• Use of medicine.
• Preventative treatment.
Causes:
There are many factors which can influence
the formation of varicose veins:
• Being seated, lying down or standing
still for too long.
• Inherited tendency.
• Gender: it is from 4 to 6 times more
frequent in women than in men.
• Pregnancy: the uterine pressure increases
the venous pressure and hinders the normal
venous return flow.
• The use of contraceptive pills.
• Frequent use of tight-fighting clothes.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Obesity.
• Smoking.
• Consumption of too much alcohol.
• Constipation.
*Photos taken from
the magazine The Vein, January-March 2003.
Official Publication of the Foundation for
the Investigation and Prevention of Vein Diseases.
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