They really don’t look pretty, these dark, bluish-reddish shimmering lines on the leg. About 66 percent of the female and 51 percent of the male population are affected by varicose veins, to use the medical term: spider veins or, in an advanced stage, varicose veins. Nobody needs worn out veins like these. For aesthetic reasons, but – and this is even more important – for your health.
The circulatory system follows a strict one-way street system. The heart pumps the oxygenated blood in the lungs through the arteries to the remotest parts of the body. The way back runs through the veins. They bring back the “spent” blood and then the whole process starts all over again. Daily transport volume: around 7000 liters. Ever since man discovered the ability to walk upright, the legs have had to cover vertical paths against the force of gravity. A tough job. But with strong, elastic vein walls, this works perfectly. Because inside the veins, special valves, the venous valves, regulate the flow of traffic: they open for the flow upwards towards the heart and close when the blood rushes back in the wrong direction. Support also comes from the calf muscles. Imagine you are holding an open tube of toothpaste, opening facing up,and you close your fist. The “muscle pump” works in a similar way. When the muscles contract, they squeeze the veins like a vise, and the blood is forced upwards.
Such ideal conditions hardly ever exist in everyday life. Sitting or standing for hours at an office job or as a saleswoman impedes circulation. If the connective tissue that gives the veins their strength leaves something to be desired, there is a genetic predisposition behind it in 80 to 90 percent of the cases. Summer temperatures make the situation even more difficult because the blood vessels dilate in the heat. The veins are overstretched and wear out over time like the cuff of your favorite sweater that has been washed too often.
When the elastic fibers in the vein walls are broken down, so-called lysosomal enzymes are also produced. As a blood-internal cleaning squad, they dispose of pollutants. However, if their concentration exceeds the normal level, these enzymes also attack the collagen network of the vein walls and thus make them permeable: Fluid leaks into the surrounding tissue, the legs swell and hurt. Certain plant substances, for example from horse chestnut seeds (e.g. in “Venostasin”, in pharmacies) offer effective protection against such edema: the aescin it contains seals damaged vein walls, inhibits inflammation and promotes blood circulation, according to numerous studies.
In the slack veins, of course, the opening and closing of the vein valves no longer works. The blood stagnates, the veins bulge out. While the finest varicose veins just under the skin (spider veins) are primarily a cosmetic problem, the situation is different with the clearly protruding, nodular, large varicose veins of the main veins and their side branches. With such pronounced varicose veins, the disturbed blood flow can lead to phlebitis and thrombosis. These are blood clots that can lead to a life-threatening vascular occlusion. Anyone who suffers from venous insufficiency should therefore definitely wear support stockings (available over the counter in pharmacies) or compression stockings (available on prescription from medical supply stores) on flights. In the long term there is a risk of circulatory disordersalso open legs. So do not take the problem lightly, but tackle it.
If the conservative therapy options, such as compression stockings and medication, have been exhausted, various surgical methods can be considered: For a long time, the pulling out of damaged vein sections, known as “stripping”, was the most common method. Today, doctors rely more on less invasive procedures, especially for smaller varicose veins, which can usually be carried out on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia and are almost painless.
In foam sclerotherapy, for example, a special foam is injected into the diseased vein. The tissue sticks together and the body breaks it down naturally over the following weeks. Laser therapy, in which a doctor welds the damaged vein wall, is also considered very gentle. More and more statutory health insurance companies are now also covering the treatment costs.
Consult a vein specialist (phlebologist) to weigh the pros and cons of the different options and find the one that’s right for you personally. The sooner you get your veins moving, the easier it is to prevent damage, but also to repair it.
Vein Wellness
Because heat dilates the blood vessels, women with weak veins get worse in the summer. Get your legs in shape.
- Keep moving: Start the “muscle pump”, every movement comes in handy: take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk short distances and let your ankles rotate while sitting.
- Support with stockings: Medical compression stockings (can be individually adjusted on prescription and are now available in many colors) squeeze worn out veins so that the venous valves close again and the blood can flow to the heart without any problems. Please wear it consistently every day, in the case of moderately severe varicose veins at least during stresses such as long flights, car or train journeys.
- Put your feet up: If the blood can flow back more easily, relieve the veins and their valves. For the sake of your vein health, you better get out of the habit of elegantly crossing your legs while sitting.
- Changing shoes: on high heels , the feet cannot make the natural rolling movement. But this leads to the important contraction and relaxation of the calf muscles. Only wear high heels as an exception, then slip into flat shoes and go barefoot as often as possible.
- Cold shower: When you shower in the morning, let warm and cold water run alternately over your lower legs. Stop cold. The vein walls contract due to the temperature stimulus and gain elasticity over time. In addition, it stimulates blood circulation.
- Do exercises: To keep your veins busy, you can incorporate many short exercises into your everyday life. About ten minutes a day, that’s all you need. Right in the morning, still in bed, you kick your legs as if you were riding a bicycle. During the day, alternate between walking on your heels and tiptoes or rocking while standing.
