Varicose veins is a disease based on irreversible enlargement of vein diameter and loss of venous valve function.
Where is the second heart
To understand the causes of varicose veins, it is necessary to turn to the characteristics of the structure and operation of the venous system.
Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from tissues and organs. Unlike arteries that carry blood from the heart and distribute it from top to bottom, most veins in the body flow from bottom to top. The main driving force in the arteries is the energy of the heart's contraction. On the way to the organ, it is almost completely consumed, unable to provide a stable return of blood to the heart.
The structural features of the venous system help maintain adequate circulation. They can be divided into:
- central;
- Peripheral.
The core is the residual blood pressure, the blood passing through the arterial system to the veins, and the suction effect of the diaphragm. It is a muscular diaphragm that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. The large veins pass through the diaphragm. When you breathe in, it drops, compressing the veins, and when you breathe out, it rises. These movements are like a pump, helping blood flow along the veins to the heart.
External factors include:
- Muscle venous pump;
- Venous valve
- Venous tone.
These factors play such a big role in the blood that they are called the second heart of the body.. . . any of these dysfunctions may be the starting point for the development of varicose veins.
Muscle-venous pump
The main force that causes blood to flow from the organs to the heart is the contraction of the muscles around the veins. This is the so-called muscular venous pump. During walking and exercise, muscle fibers contract, which leads to narrowing of the venous lumen, and as a result, blood is pushed into the overlying part.
Venous valve
In order to prevent blood from returning when the muscle fibers relax, a valve is provided in the vein. They are growths on the inner surface of blood vessel walls, thin elastic plates. The valve faces the heart.
Their working principle is: when the muscle fibers relax and the blood tends to flow downwards under the action of gravity, it enters the space formed by the valve leaflets and the blood vessel wall. The pressure created by the blood in this area causes the valve to close, preventing its backflow.
Venous sounds
Vein tension ensures the maintenance and regulation of blood vessel volume. It is provided by connective tissue and muscle fibers that make up the vein wall. Special nerve cells located in the thickness of blood vessels respond to blood pressure by sending signals to muscle cells and connective tissue fibers. The venous cavity is reduced, so blood flows to the heart.
Therefore, the stable operation of the venous system depends on the correct operation of all its components. Understanding these mechanisms means making the treatment of varicose veins the most effective.
Between cause and effect
To date, there is no single theory on the development of varicose veins. The biggest difficulty is to distinguish between the direct cause of the disease and the conditions that only contribute to its manifestation.
Varicose vein disease is a genetically determined disease that only manifests when exposed to certain unfavorable factors.
In people who are susceptible to varicose veins, it is found that the structure of the blood vessel wall is congenital disorder and the number of valves is reduced. As a result, the two most important mechanisms of blood flow from the organs to the heart are affected: decreased venous tone and ineffective valve devices.
The simplified development of the disease in this case is as follows. The blood pushed through the blood vessels due to muscle contraction tends to go downward during the relaxation phase of the muscle fibers under the influence of gravity. If there are few venous valves or their valves cannot effectively block the vascular cavity, blood will flow back to the lower part. Due to insufficient elasticity and elasticity of the vein wall, a significant expansion of the blood vessel diameter will occur. As a result, the valve cusps separate further from each other, allowing more blood to flow downward. Form a pathological vicious circle. This is varicose veins.
However, in a healthy body, even if there are congenital changes in venous blood vessels, disease development will not occur. In order for this mechanism to work, the influence of one or several unfavorable factors is necessary. These include:
- lifestyle;
- Decreased physical strength;
- obesity;
- hormone imbalance;
- Pregnant.
lifestyle
Lifestyle causes an increase in venous pressure, which in turn leads to an increase in blood vessel wall pressure.
This is most commonly observed during long periods of standing or sitting and during work related to constant weightlifting. The development of varicose veins is caused by tight underwear and jeans, which squeeze the large veins in the groin folds. Nutrition is also important: the consumption of refined foods, there are no fresh fruits and vegetables in the daily menu-a source of fiber. This kind of nutrition can cause constipation, thereby increasing intra-abdominal pressure.
Lack of motivation
As you know, muscles are the second heart of veins, and due to their contraction, blood vessel walls are compressed and blood flows. A sedentary lifestyle loses this circulation mechanism. The degree of muscle development also plays an important role-the better the muscle development, the easier it is to cope with the work of promoting blood circulation. This is why varicose veins rarely occur in athletes.
obesity
Obesity is a reliable risk factor for varicose veins in women. At the same time, this dependence does not show up in men.
hormone imbalance
Female sex hormones-estrogen and progesterone-exceed physiological standards and affect the vein wall and reduce its tension. This is due to the gradual destruction of connective fibers that provide its strength and elasticity. Hormonal contraceptives, hormonal drugs used to treat menopause, play an important role in the development of varicose veins.
Pregnant
The increase in the amount of circulating blood, the compression of the uterus by the large veins after passing through the posterior wall of the uterus, and the increase in intra-abdominal pressure make pregnancy one of the main causes of varicose veins in women.