Here’s a quick summary: Your veins are able to fight gravity and bring the blood back to your heart with the use of valves. At every two to four inches, a leaflet valve closes when the blood tries to go down. This prevent the blood from accumulating in your legs.
So What Causes Varicose Veins?
A varicose vein develops when wall dilatation occurs. Alterations in
the vein wall prevent the valve from closing properly. The blood is able to go back down below the valve. This cause the vein to enlarge even more.
If you are like me, this explanation did not satisfy you. It’s like going to the doctor and asking him:
“Doctor, I have massive pain in my arm. What is causing all this pain?”
“ You feel pain because the pain receptors in your arm are sending signals to your central nervous system.”
“Thank you doc, but you did not really answer my question…”
The Real Cause of Varicose Veins
You know that your veins are getting dilated, but you want to know why.
The truth is, beside the wall dilatation and valve dysfunction theory, nobody knows what is causing all this change in the first place. But hundred of researchers are looking for the source of the problem as you are reading this. By registering on our newsletter you will be the first one to know when the definite cure has been found. Until then, you have to take your condition under control using my Two Steps System to Get Rid of Varicose Veins Naturally.
The Risk Factors for Varicose Veins
Risk Factor #1: Age
Age is the principal risk factor. While some children and teenagers have signs of venous disease, they are rare (5 to 15%). During a lifetime, the frequency of varicose veins increase with age. At 70 years old about 70% of men and women have varicose veins or spider veins.
Risk Factor #2: Heredity
Varicose veins often run in the family. The risk for a child to have varicose veins during his or her lifetime is at 89% if both parents have varicose veins, 47% if only one parent has them and 20% if none of the parents show signs of venous insufficiency. [1]
Risk Factor #3: Pregnancies, menopause
Pregnancies play an aggravating factor for the woman, especially if she has signs of venous disease before the pregnancies. Before having pregnancies, the risk of having varicose veins is the same for men and women. The risk increases with the number of pregnancies. Menopause is also a risk factor. In one study, 38.2% of women said menopause was the starting point of having varicose veins. [2]
Risk Factor #4: Profession and lifestyle
Standing up still or sitting for long period of time increase the risk of developing varicose veins. The risk increases with the number of years exercising this work. Working in a warm environment, lifting heavy weight and having a sedentary lifestyle are also risk factors.
Other Possible Risk Factors:
-Taking contraceptive pills
-Being overweight
-Smoking
-Constipation and a diet low in fiber
-Hypertension
The Evolution of Venous Insufficiency
Early treatment is key to prevent venous disorders
And the Importance of Early Treatment
In the general population with venous insufficiency, aging is associated with more serious symptoms. The pain, the discomfort and the swelling all tend to increase with age.
These facts support the importance of taking care of your veins as soon as possible. An early treatment of your varicose disease could limit the predictable deterioration of your veins and legs.
The standard number of asymptomatic patient in studies is 34.4% (Phlebology 2008;23:5) Don’t wait until it hurts. If you have any sign of varicose veins, use my Two Steps System to Get Rid of Varicose Veins today. Early care treatment is the key.
Past a Certain Point, There Is No Recovery
When your superficial veins don’t work as they should, it causes a condition called ‘superficial venous reflux’. If left untreated, this reflux will gradually produce what is known as chronic venous insufficiency. One of the first sign is eczema just above the ankle. Red patches of inflammation and sometimes swelling occur.
In the next stage, the skin pigmentation changes. From light brown, the skin color will gradually change to dark brown. White spots can occur as a result of atrophy.
After this point of no return, the damage expend to not only the skin but the lipid layer. Both parts harden and shrink, causing bumps on your leg.
Chronic venous insufficiency can then lead to the formation of an ulcer. Venous ulcer develop mostly on the middle of the leg and can be very painful.
At What Stage Are You At?
The Seven Classes of Venous Disease
In 1994, a classification system was developed to standardize the evaluation of severity of venous disease. This system is called CEAP (short for clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological)
The clinical signs are categorized into seven stages :
Stage 0
No evidence of venous disease
Stage 1
Superficial spider veins only
Stage 2
Simple varicose veins
Stage 3
Ankle edema (swelling)
Stage 4
Skin pigmentation changes
Stage 5
Ulcer that heals
Stage 6
Ulcer that stays open
More than half of the ulcers are the consequences of varicose veins that were neglected and could have easily been treated. Don’t wait. If you have varicose veins, treat them before they get worse.
Now that you are aware of the seriousness of venous insufficiency, click the next link to read: The Two Steps System to Get Rid of Varicose Veins Naturally.
Marc Livingston
