Varicose Veins.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 6

Varicose Veins.

Health Talks

By a Family Doctor. No one knows the cause of varicose veins. There are many things whose origin we don’t understand. I should be much obliged if someone would explain to me why one man is five feet tall and another six feet. Varicose veins are often inherited and no one can be blamed for choosing a mother with swollen veins. What we do know, however, is that hereditary tendencies are aggravated by certain habits, and we want to prevent the veins from developing into a worse condition. In the first place, we must bear in mind that the veins are hollow vessels containing fluid blood, and that the blood has to travel uphill, i.e., from the foot to the heart. Inside the veins are valves which prevent the blood from flowing backwards, but when the vein is very large and twisted these valves cease to act. They either tear through or they no longer stretch across the enlarged vessel. So the blood-stream, already engaged in the difficult job of working uphill, loses the assistance of the valves. If the patient could spend his life lying down he would not develop varicose veins, but he probably would not earn any wages. Choice of a Trade. All this brings us at once to a most important point—viz., the choice of a trade. These veins do not generally show themselves in boyhood. The tendency may be there, and they begin to show themselves as deep blue marks on the skin when the lad . begins strenuous work. If the elder brother, and perhaps the father, too, have had varicose veins, and the younger one shows signs, he would be wise to choose an occupation that does not involve standing as a definite routine part of his job. He ought not to become a policeman. There is no way of preventing the swelling of the veins of the legs during pregnancy. It is an opportunity for the husband to prove his devotion by saving his wife all the trouble he can. I don’t suppose he would be much good at cooking the dinner, although the chief cooks at large hotels are men. But he must give his wife a chance to rest quiet when her veins are aching. As I have explained, the blood finds some difficulty in flowing up to the heart, and some dear old ladies have no more sense than to tie a piece of string tightly round the leg to keep their stockings up. This constriction is adding insult to injury. The penalty is paid by a further swelling of the veins. The Heart in Danger. Swollen veins are easily damaged by slight injuries. They quickly become hot, red, swollen, and painful. When this happens the blood may clot inside the veins and block them completely. The blood is then still further impeded in its course back to the heart. The doctor always orders rest and care when a vein is inflamed, because the blood-clot inside might break off, and then there would be a danger of the clot being carried along to the heart. Since the blood-flow through the veins is controlled by the pumping force of the heart, it follows that anything that depresses or embarrasses the heart makes the veins worse. A reduction of two or three stone of fat will improve the state of the veins. On the other hand, a collection of fat round the heart will diminish its pumping power, and swollen ankles are the result.