Varicose veins of legs: Common disease in older women

Women who stand a lot when doing housework, are pregnant, give birth a lot, use birth control pills are at risk of developing varicose veins at the age of 40-50. The manifestation of the disease may be a sharp break, tired legs, and sit up and sit very hard .

The patient Nguyen Thi D., 60 years old, in Binh Thuan gave birth 8 times. For many years, patients often have broken legs, tired legs at night. However, for a long time, Mrs. D. only took painkillers, then went to the neurology department because she thought she had sciatica or joint pain.

Or Ms. Tran Thi Thu H., born in 1961, living in Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa, worked as a trader, suffering from a leg strain to the point where she sat up and stood very hard. Every time you stand up, your legs are very weak. This disease has been around for 3-4 years. In the past, Ms. H. used to use birth control pills for a very long time, 6 years.

Until these two patients came to the Department of Vascular Medicine - Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy and did intravenous ultrasound. Results showed that: In both patients, the veins in the legs were dilated, and the veins were reduced or even lost function.

Leg swelling, skin disorders, long-term healing ulcers are complications of varicose veins.(Photo: H.Cat)

According to Assoc. Dr. BS Nguyen Hoai Nam, Specialist II of Thoracic Surgery and Cardiology - Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, is in fact very common but has not received the attention of both physicians and patients. Diseases due to dilated venous system of the skin, venous valves have reduced function.

Patients often suffer from blood stasis in the vein. This condition will cause the legs to swell. Moreover, the stagnant blood gradually formed blood clots in the veins. Patients with varicose veins are often symmetrical on both sides.

"Treatment is not good, blood clots can float along the bloodstream to the heart, and cause pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal to patients," said Dr. Hoai Nam.

Estimated, in 2006, at Vascular Clinic of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, more than 7,000 patients came for examination because of varicose veins. Most women are in the 40-50 age group. This disease is closely related to pregnancy, childbirth, contraceptive use and especially standing a lot when doing housework.

The most common symptoms in the early stages of lower limb varicose disease are edema of the lower extremities accompanied by heavy sensation, night cramps, which will lessen when the patient takes a high leg at night. sleep.

Later on, the symptoms gradually worsened, and there were signs of nutritional disorders on the skin and veins that gradually dilated, swollen, there may be episodes of thrombophlebitis with systemic infection symptoms such as high fever, The lips were dry and dirty and the veins were red, the inside of the heart appeared hard thrombo .

According to BS. Hoai Nam, a sad fact is that most patients come to doctors when the disease is already in the late stages. In many cases, complications of nutrition ulcer, bleeding, thrombophlebitis . Treatment costs will increase from 4-5 times for patients who are late.

Meanwhile, in the early stages, medical treatment is less expensive. It is estimated that a course of treatment lasts 6 months, each day costs 20,000 - 30,000 VND.

Moreover, prevention of varicose veins is very simple, such as avoiding obesity, avoiding long standing, avoiding constipation and increasing the strength of vascular wall by exercising, eating foods rich in vitamins. .

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