Foot specialist Kazuhito Nagasaki’s book “Foot Teacher! Swollen legs, tiredness, coldness, varicose veins Please tell me how to make it easier. (published by Ascom)” introduces how to prevent and deal with foot problems. The theme of this time is the prevention of lower extremity varicose veins.
Table of contents
- What is lower extremity varicose veins?
- how to discover How to check?
- What are the symptoms of varicose veins? Do you need a doctor’s diagnosis?
- If the symptoms are not severe, is it okay to leave them alone?
- Are varicose veins related to age?
- Check out Kazuhito Nagasaki’s book, “Foot Teacher”!
- Video: [Swelling, coldness, and cramps] The number of young women suffering from foot problems is increasing!!
What is lower extremity varicose veins?
Varicose veins are a disease in which the veins in the legs cause backflow of blood, which causes problems in daily life.
There are various symptoms such as swollen feet, pain, sluggishness, bump-like bumps, and unsightly patterns on the surface of the feet. It is a disease name that is often heard on TV health programs, but the actual situation is not well known.
Blood vessels in the human body consist of arteries and veins. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, and veins are blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart from other parts of the body.
Arteries receive the pressure of the heart’s powerful pumps, but veins do not. Therefore, veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood back to the heart. There are about 100 of these valves on each leg.
Difference Between Arteries and Veins
Many people think that arteries and veins are similar vessels, but there are many differences. The biggest difference is that arteries have no valves and veins have valves. Arteries (left) receive strong blood pressure from the heart, so they are elastic and strong. Veins (right) have valves inside them to prevent backflow of blood.
As you get older or have a combination of conditions, these valves can break and allow blood to flow back into your veins. This is what happens in the veins of the legs and is called “varicose veins”. Since the feet are far from the heart and are below the heart when standing, they are particularly prone to reflux.
Vein valves are membrane-like structures that can easily break when subjected to a large amount of force. Moreover, unlike nails and skin, once damaged, it cannot be regenerated. Veins with broken valves can no longer carry blood back to the heart and swell with gravity-pulled blood. It becomes the unevenness of the foot and is visible.
Blood that is not sent to the heart accumulates in the legs and causes various problems. If the pain becomes unbearable, you may not be able to walk, so some kind of response is required.
how to discover How to check?
Varicose veins can be diagnosed if there is reflux in the veins of the legs and symptoms such as various problems in the legs. It requires a doctor’s examination, and it is quite difficult for the general public to conclude that “I have varicose veins”, but I can have suspicions.
If more than half of the following check items apply, there is a high possibility that you have varicose veins.
Varicose Veins Symptom Checklist
- Have a parent or relative with varicose veins
- have been pregnant or given birth
- Work is basically standing work
- Work is often sitting at a desk
- Feeling lack of exercise on a daily basis
- Less than 4000 steps per day
- feet tend to swell
- often hurts feet
- feet get tired easily
- Leg veins appear to float
- The surface of the foot is uneven
- I often have leg cramps while sleeping
- Eczema or itching on the feet
What are the symptoms of varicose veins? Do you need a doctor’s diagnosis?
A typical symptom is leg pain. There are many people who have cramps in their legs, swollen legs and feel heavy. Some people complain of skin symptoms such as itching, darkening, and ulcers due to swollen feet and puffy skin. Ulcers on the skin can become infected and lead to other diseases.
If the varicose veins are mild, you can just wait and see as long as the symptoms are tolerable. If symptoms such as pain or leg cramps appear, or skin symptoms begin to appear, it is better to consult a doctor for treatment.
It’s not meant to be threatening, but if left untreated, the wound may take a long time to heal and the pain may become unbearable.
This is a different pathology, but by inviting thrombosis, the risk of deep vein thrombosis increases. When that happens, blood clots can fly to the lungs and become fatal.
If the symptoms are not severe, is it okay to leave them alone?
The answer depends on what kind of symptoms you have now and what kind of life you are living on a daily basis. If your current symptoms are such that your quality of life is impaired, such as “I can’t stand the pain,” “I can’t walk because of the pain,” or “I can’t sleep at night because my legs are cramping,” then you should go to the hospital. .
Also, even if the symptoms are not that severe, if the number of steps taken per day is about 2,000 while standing or sitting, it is predicted that the symptoms will get worse if left untreated.
Basically, varicose veins are a disease that does not heal on its own. It can be safely left untreated only if the current symptoms are very mild, the progression is slow, and the person walks about 8,000 steps a day on a daily basis.
If you develop skin problems such as a sore on your foot that doesn’t heal, or the skin on your foot becomes very itchy, or develops a rash, see a doctor right away. If you go to a dermatologist, varicose veins may be overlooked, so we recommend that you visit a medical institution that can treat varicose veins, such as a clinic specializing in varicose veins or an angiosurgery.
Are varicose veins related to age?
There are a lot. The most common cause of varicose veins is aging. It is also evident in the fact that 3 out of 4 people over the age of 75 develop it, and it is rarely seen in young people.
Aging causes the disease for the following reasons:
This disease is caused by the breakdown of the valves in the veins that prevent the backflow of blood. Therefore, the risk of developing this disease increases with age.
As you get older, you generally get less exercise. In particular, if you have a pain somewhere in your body that makes it difficult for you to walk, you may soon find yourself stuck at home.
The best way to prevent varicose veins is to use your calf muscles to pump blood back to your heart. However, if you don’t move your calves due to lack of exercise, you won’t be able to do it.
Aim to walk 8,000 steps a day even as you get older. It is also to take a long stride and walk fast. It suppresses the onset and progression of varicose veins.
This was the prevention method of lower extremity varicose veins. Next time, I’ll introduce you to how to get rid of foot problems at home.
