There are many myths surrounding the causes of varicose veins circulating in society. One of them is the assumption that the position of the legs bent after exercising can cause varicose veins.
That's the answer, a myth. There is no relationship between bent leg position and the appearance of varicose veins.
Another myth is the notion that varicose veins are a genetically inherited condition.
In addition, many people think that varicose veins are only a cosmetic disorder characterized by the appearance of blue marks or lumps of blood vessels.
In fact, the causes of varicose veins are more complex and can affect a person's quality of life.
What Are Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins are a medical condition that occurs when the veins become enlarged and swollen.
This is caused by weakness or damage to the blood vessel valves, which function to prevent blood from flowing back down due to gravity.
When these valves weaken, blood cannot return to the heart smoothly, causing blood pressure to increase in the veins, and these veins become swollen, which we call varicose veins.
These symptoms often appear on the feet, but can also occur on other parts of the body.
Varicose veins are not just symptoms that appear due to 'blue' on the skin, but more on blood flow disorders due to weak vein valve problems. This condition generally appears in adulthood.
However, anyone can be at risk, especially if there are certain factors that worsen the valve's function, such as pregnancy, obesity, or standing for long periods.
What Are the Risk Factors for Varicose Veins?
There are several main factors that can worsen the condition of varicose veins and need to be considered, including:
- Static Position
Standing or sitting for long periods of time can increase pressure on the blood vessels in the legs, which causes blood flow to be restricted and triggers varicose veins.
Jobs that require prolonged standing, such as doctors, nurses, and cashiers, are at higher risk of developing varicose veins.
- Pregnancy
Pregnancy is also a significant risk factor, as increased blood volume and hormonal changes can worsen blood vessel conditions.
- Obesity
Excess weight puts more pressure on blood vessels, impairing blood flow and increasing the risk of developing varicose veins.
- Lifestyle Factors
Varicose veins are actually more influenced by lifestyle factors and existing medical conditions.
How to Treat Varicose Veins in the Legs?
One way to treat varicose veins is to use compression stockings, which are specially designed to help improve blood flow and prevent blood from pooling in the veins.
Stockings for varicose veins are not cosmetic or aesthetic stockings, but rather medical stockings designed to provide compression to the legs.
Compression stockings are designed to provide the greatest pressure at the ankle, and this pressure decreases as the stocking moves up the leg.
The greatest pressure should be at the bottom (ankles) because the purpose of compression stockings is to prevent blood that should flow upwards from flowing back down.
This compression effect helps improve blood circulation and reduce swelling in the legs.
The key to using compression stockings is the compression itself, which aims to help move blood from the legs back up the body.
What Are the Different Types of Compression Stockings?
There are several types of compression stockings available, with the two most common being knee tights and thigh heights.
The choice of stocking type depends on the location of blood vessel damage detected through examinations such as venous ultrasound.
If the damage is in the area around the knee, then knee tights may be more effective. However, if the damage is higher, such as in the thigh area, thigh height stockings will be more appropriate.
Additionally, there is also a type of stocking called panty hose, which provides compression from the waist down to the feet.
The selection of this type of compression stocking is highly dependent on the diagnosis of the blood vessel condition resulting from a medical examination.
Although the choice of compression stocking type is based on medical needs, wearing comfort is also very important.
It is important to choose stockings that are not only appropriate for your medical condition, but also comfortable for everyday wear. Some people may prefer knee-length stockings for their convenience, while others may need higher compression which can be achieved with thigh-high stockings or panty hose.
What are the treatments for varicose veins?
Meanwhile, compression is not to cure varicose veins, but more for prevention and to help the effectiveness of the medical procedures we perform.
Compression stockings are used to prevent the worsening of varicose veins and help improve blood flow in the legs.
This is especially important for patients who have recently undergone surgery or other medical procedures for varicose veins.
Medical stockings have various levels of compression classes that are used for prevention and recovery. If the procedure uses heat or thermal energy, compression stockings are usually used after surgery to support the recovery process.
However, for procedures that use blood-clotting agents, such as cyanoacrylate, stockings may not be necessary.
In general, other medical measures besides using compression stockings are only considered when the varicose condition has reached a more severe level.
Stockings cannot cure varicose veins, and if the condition is more severe, for example varicose veins cause ulcers or wounds that continue to leak fluid and smell, then surgery or other medical procedures may be necessary.
The article was created based on the Healthy Monday program in collaboration with EMC Healthcare and Liputan6, with resource persons, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Specialist Doctors, dr. Londung Brisman Sitorus, Sp.B, SubSp.BVE (K) (EMC Alam Sutera & Tangerang Hospital) and dr. Anne Saputra, M.Biomed, Sp.B, Subsp.BVE (K) (EMC Pulomas Hospital).