We inherit from our parents not only beauty and IQ, but also susceptibility to certain diseases. One of them is varicose veins of the lower extremities. But are we doomed to disease?
According to world statistics, more than half of people suffer from varicose veins of the lower extremities. Therefore, it is a serious social problem. Varicose veins are a disease largely genetically determined. Most often, people from several generations suffer from the disease in a given family, so often the first symptoms in young people are ignored and treated as “normal”. Meanwhile, prophylaxis and early treatment initiation can significantly inhibit the development of the disease and reduce subsequent complications.
Heavy legs syndrome
The first symptoms of the disease include the feeling of sore legs immediately after getting out of bed, when walking or standing for a long time, this symptom is sometimes referred to as “heavy legs syndrome”. It may also be accompanied by swelling around the ankles. Such signals should prompt us to visit a phlebologist or surgeon, especially if a family member has had varicose veins before.
Prevention and treatment of varicose veins
To prevent the disease progressing, avoid prolonged standing or sitting and, if possible, rest with your legs slightly elevated. Regular physical activity to stimulate circulation, avoiding uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, and maintaining a healthy body weight are also important. People prone to varicose veins should also avoid going to the sauna and solarium as well as hot waxing.
When the problem of varicose veins occurs, surgery becomes necessary, but operations do not exclude recurrence of the disease. Another method of treating varicose veins is sclerotherapy consisting in injecting drugs that close the affected vessels. Also helpful are ointments and oral agents available in pharmacies, which can delay the formation of new varicose veins and bring relief to sore legs, but do not eliminate varicose veins.
Joanna Grzybowska-Gałuszka, MD, PhD