- Detecting and treating the symptoms derived from venous insufficiency can prevent the worsening of varicose veins or the appearance of a thrombosis.
- Compression therapy is of great help to reduce symptoms in any of the three cases and avoid future complications.
- They all have to do with insufficient blood circulation through the arteries.
One of the keys to prevent a health problem from becoming serious is to see a doctor immediately. The drawback is that many times patients do not pay attention to the initial symptoms or wait too long to seek help. It also influences that there are diseases such as venous insufficiency that can sometimes be confused with others that usually cause similar discomfort.
problems of everyday life
When a person has a feeling of heaviness, swelling or numbness in the legs, it is usually thought that it is the result of a bad day due to being on their feet for a long time, wearing uncomfortable shoes or not having done enough physical activity. However, these symptoms go beyond the aesthetic and what was done during their day. Rather, they may be manifestations of blood circulation problems that can lead to venous insufficiency, varicose veins or even venous thrombosis.
For this reason, and to have an adequate treatment, the ideal is to know the differences between each one to identify the type of medical attention that you should seek. Although the truth is that all three are among the most common venous diseases according to the ABC Medical Center.
First you must understand that although they are not the same, they do have a relationship. For this reason, the similarity between the symptoms that each one presents: they all have to do with insufficient blood circulation (to and from the heart) through the arteries, according to the Medicine Gazette of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, January 2020.
Precisely, the chronic venous insufficiency It is a frequent condition of 80% in Latin America, even more in women (64% vs. 37% of men, according to the Mexican Institute of Social Security and the Clinical Practice Guide of the European Society of Vascular Surgery) and occurs when the system venous is unable to perform adequate venous return.
And although it is progressive, with adequate treatment it does not lead to complications that affect people’s quality of life.
Another case can occur when the arteries become clogged and the veins dilate, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart. With this, symptoms such as varicose veins arise, which are swollen and visible veins on the surface of the skin. It is more common for them to appear on the legs and can cause wounds, pain and swelling, which can be an indicator of a probable circulation problem.
And finally, a thrombosis It occurs when a thrombus, which is a mass of blood formed in a blood vessel wall (clot), blocks the flow of blood. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they usually form on the lower legs, thighs, or pelvis, but they can also appear on the arm.
In all three cases, compression therapy reduces inflammation and helps the arteries to be sufficiently compressed for optimal blood circulation. In any case, one of the indications is always to see a general practitioner or even a specialist such as an angiologist to identify the type of treatment that should be followed.
Also read:
INTERVIEW: At least 30% of the population suffers from chronic venous insufficiency
Varicose veins, a common problem that can lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis
Swollen feet, the most common problem in travelers on vacation