Varicose veins are a disease that is based on an irreversible increase in the diameter of the veins and the loss of the function of the venous valves.
Where is the other heart
To understand the causes of varicose veins, it is necessary to pay attention to the peculiarities of the structure and work of the venous system.
Veins refer to the blood vessels that carry blood from tissues and organs. Unlike the arteries that drive 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 heart contractions. On the way to the organ, it is almost completely consumed and cannot provide a stable return of blood to the heart.
The structural characteristics of the venous system help maintain full circulation. They can be divided into:
- central;
- peripheral.
Central are the residual blood pressure, which is transmitted to the veins after the blood passes through the arterial system, and the suction action of the diaphragm. It is the muscular septum that separates the thorax from the abdominal cavity. Large venous vessels pass through the diaphragm. When you inhale, it descends, squeezing the venous veins, and when you exhale, it rises. These movements work like a pump, helping the blood to flow along the veins towards the heart.
Peripheral factors include:
- musculoskeletal pump;
- venous valves;
- venous tone.
The role of these factors in the bloodstream is so great that they are called the second heart of the body.. . . Dysfunction of any of them can be the starting point in the development of varicose veins.
Musculoskeletal pump
The main force that causes the movement of blood from the organs to the heart is the contraction of the muscles that surround the veins. This is the so-called musculoskeletal pump. During walking, exercise, muscle fibers shrink, which leads to narrowing of the lumen of the venous vessels, due to which the blood is pushed into the upper parts.
Venous valves
In order to prevent the return of blood at the moment when the muscle fibers relax, there are valves in the veins. They are growths on the inner surface of the vascular wall, which are a thin elastic plate. The flap covers are directed towards the heart.
The principle of their work is as follows: when the muscle fibers relax and the blood tends to return downwards under the force of gravity, it enters the space that makes up the valve leaf and the vessel wall. The pressure created by the blood in this area causes the valves to close, which prevents it from returning.
Venous tone
Venous tone ensures maintenance and regulation of vascular capacity. It is provided by connective tissue and muscle fibers that make up the venous wall. Special nerve cells, which are located in the thickness of blood vessels, react to blood pressure by signaling muscle cells and connective tissue fibers. The lumen of the vein is reduced, which is why the blood moves towards the heart.
Therefore, the stable functioning of the venous system depends on the proper functioning of all its components. Understanding these mechanisms means making varicose vein treatment the most effective.
Between cause and effect
To date, there is no single theory about the development of varicose veins. The biggest difficulty is separating the direct cause of the disease and the conditions that only contribute to its manifestation.
Varicose vein disease is a genetically determined disease that manifests itself only when exposed to certain adverse factors.
In persons susceptible to varicose veins, there was a congenital disorder of the structure of the vascular wall and a decrease in the number of valves. As a result, the two most important mechanisms of blood flow from the organs to the heart suffer: venous tone decreases and the valve apparatus does not work.
The simplified development of the disease in this case is as follows. Blood, which is pushed through blood vessels due to muscle contraction, weighs down in the phase of relaxation of muscle fibers under the influence of gravity. If there are few venous valves or their valves are not able to effectively block the lumen of the vessel, the blood returns back to the lower parts. Insufficient elasticity and elasticity of the venous wall lead to a pronounced expansion of the vessel diameter. As a result, the valve nodules move further away from each other, allowing even more blood to flow down. A pathologically vicious circle develops. These are varicose veins.
However, in a healthy body, even in the presence of congenital changes in the venous vessels, the development of the disease does not occur. In order for this mechanism to work, the influence of one or more harmful factors is necessary. This includes:
- Lifestyle;
- hypodynamics;
- obesity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- pregnancy.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle characteristics lead to increased pressure in the veins, which results in increased stress on the vascular wall.
This is most often observed when standing or sitting for a long time and during work associated with constant weight lifting. The development of varicose veins is caused by tight underwear, jeans, which compress the large veins at the level of the inguinal folds. Diet is also important: consumption of refined foods, the absence of fresh fruits and vegetables in the daily menu - a source of fiber. Such a diet leads to the development of constipation, which increases intra-abdominal pressure.
Hypodynamics
As you know, muscles are the second heart for veins, because of their contraction, the walls of blood vessels constrict and blood moves. With a sedentary lifestyle, this circulatory mechanism is lost. The degree of muscle development also plays an important role - the better the muscle is developed, the easier it is to cope with the job of promoting blood. This is the reason for the rare occurrence of varicose veins in athletes.
obesity
Obesity is a reliable risk factor for varicose veins in women. At the same time, such addiction has not been detected in men.
Hormonal imbalance
Female sex hormones - estrogen, progesterone - in quantities that exceed physiological norms, affect the vein wall and reduce its tone. This is due to the gradual destruction of the connective fibers that ensure its strength and elasticity. Hormonal contraceptives, hormonal drugs for the treatment of menopause play an important role in the formation of varicose veins.
Pregnancy
Increasing the volume of circulating blood, compression by the uterus of large veins passing behind its posterior wall, increase in intra-abdominal pressure make pregnancy one of the main causes of varicose veins in women.