Understanding Varicose Vein Problems - Free Report Example

Introduction

Understanding the normal functions of the venous anatomy is desired to understand how people suffer from varicose vein problems. The peripheral venous system acts as a channel to return blood to the heart and a reservoir to store blood. The active operations of the peripheral nervous system depend on a series of muscle pumps and valves. In normal functioning, blood enters the lower extremity's venous system against changing thoracoabdominal pressures and gravity to return to central circulation in an upright position. Henceforth, varicose veins is inadequate venous return in a prolonged time. Varicose veins are the vein in which blood has clustered, thus causing the walls to enlarge. Therefore, the veins are not in a position to open and close as desired. The causative factors may include gradual venous distention or trauma. People who wear tight clothes stand for prolonged periods, and those who tend to cross their legs are at increased risk of developing venous insufficiency.

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Nonetheless, other risk factors include a family history, age, age, pregnancy, female gender, and vein thrombosis. The prolonged pressure in the veins causes the inability to maintain typical venous pressure. Varicose veins are prevalent in both men and women as age progresses. The female gender, especially pregnant women, is more likely to develop venous insufficiency than men. The reason is that women experience more cases of varicose veins due to hormone changes that menstrual cycles, physical development, and pregnancy.

Prevalence of Varicose Veins in Women

Hormones are a critical reason that prevalence of varicose veins is prevalent in women compared to men. Hormones play a significant factor in a woman's body functions, specifically progesterone and estrogen, that impact physical development, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy. As age advances in women, hormonal alterations cause hot flashes, mood swings, or weak bones. Consequently, varicose veins are another hormonal-related challenge that women may experience as they advance in age.

There is an increased chance that 50% of women may be affected by varicose veins. Similarly, 25 million women in the United States between 35 and 85 years old suffer from varicose veins ("Varicose Veins | NHLBI, NIH", 2020). The painful and expanding veins are typical challenges and not necessarily a cosmetic issue. Hormonal alterations can play a significant factor in the formation of varicose veins. Henceforth, understanding how the hormonal changes affect the veins can help women take the steps needed to minimize the risk of developing varicose veins.

Age

The risk of varicose veins enhances with age. The reason is that aging causes tear and wear on the valves in the veins responsible for normal blood flow. In a prolonged time, the tear and wear cause the valve to allows blood to flow back to the veins where it was collected rather than flowing up to the heart. Although varicose veins are prevalent in both men and women, it is twice as common in the latter gender group.

Hereditary and hormonal factors are significant factors that make women more at risk of varicose veins than men—nonetheless, the situation rate increases with age. A 10% probability has happened in a 20-year-old girl, but 98% that varicose veins have occurred in women above 60-year-old (Weiss, 2018). In that perspective, varicose veins increase with age and are shared in older women compared to young girls.

Causes and Symptoms

Obesity contributes to significant ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, and increased blood pressure. Obesity puts excessive pressure on the leg's valves and their veins. It makes it challenging to pump blood against gravity and back to the heart. Useful valves located in the leg's veins are significant since they prevent blood from flowing backward and pooling in the legs. With time, the excessive stress of body weight can cause the valve to fail. Consequently, the resulting back pressure can lead to the vein branches to increase and become varicose veins.

Treatment and Proliferation Without Treatment

Improving blood flow is one of the ways that can help minimize swelling and help enhance flow. It is significant for people suffering from varicose veins to keep their legs elevated or raised to increase blood flow and thus reduce swelling (Weiss, 2018). Additionally, it is essential for people suffering from varicose veins to wear compression stockings. The reason is that compression stockings apply pressure on the lower legs, increasing blood flow and minimizing swelling.

It is essential for people suffering from varicose veins to wear compression stockings. The reason is that compression stockings apply pressure on the lower legs, increasing blood flow and minimizing swelling (Weiss, 2018). Compressions stocking help reduce the symptoms of varicose veins. The reason is that compression stocking increases blood circulation. A compression stocking is tightest at the foot and gradually loosen as it fits higher on the leg.

The high litigation and vein stripping are strategies that involve tying a vein and removing the vein through small incisions before it joins the deep veins. The vein's removal would not severely affect the blood circulation in a person suffering from varicose veins because the deeper veins are responsible for circulating large volumes of blood (Weiss, 2018). Henceforth, high litigation, and vein stripping are effective procedures that can treat varicose veins' development.

Conclusion

Varicose veins are a progressive ailment with age being a significant risk factor. The reason is that with increasing age, people tend to experience more symptoms of varicose veins since aging causes tear and wear on the valves in the veins that are responsible for normal blood flow. As earlier mentioned, it is a progressive ailment that the disease will become more severe if left untreated, resulting in more symptoms. Consequently, increasing age means improved risk of clinical progression from varicose veins to varicose insufficiency.

Additionally, pregnancy is considered a significant factor in the enhanced incidence of varicose veins in women. The reason is that pregnancy is linked with several physiologic alterations that contribute to the development of venous expansion and potentially varicose veins. Similarly, Obesity puts excessive pressure on the leg’s valves and their veins. It makes it challenging to pump blood against gravity and back to the heart.

References

Varicose Veins | NHLBI, NIH. Nhlbi.nih.gov. (2020). Retrieved from
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/varicose-veins.

Weiss, R. (2018). Venous Insufficiency: Background, Anatomy, Pathophysiology. Emedicine.medscape.com. Retrieved from
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1085412-overview.