The venous system is an important part of the blood circulation of the human body. Thanks to it, slag and toxins are removed, the balance of fluid in the cells is regulated. Here, the movement of blood goes to the heart and is easy for oxygen enrichment of the depleted mixture.
General definitions
The arterial and venous system provide the body with oxygen, minerals, and beneficial substances. In the blood there are protective cells that allow you to destroy foreign inclusions: bacteria, viruses, decomposition results. And carbon dioxide is also being removed.
The venous system is the reverse branch of blood flow. Through it, movement to the heart occurs. Here the pressure in the vessels is minimal, the fluid accumulates, and as a result, the venous walls are stretched.
The vessels of the venous system have check valves that exclude reverse movement of blood. Veins contain a huge number of bacteria in inflammation. Therefore, stagnation in the vessels is the cause of inflammatory processes in most cases.
Small veins divert blood from the integument of the skin, joints, and muscles. They merge into larger vessels passing through the entire body - these are the superior and inferior vena cava. The first collects small veins from the head, cervical region, upper limbs. The second is connected to the leg area, internal digestive organs, and the hip area.
After passing through the heart, the blood returns to the pulmonary artery, where it is again saturated with oxygen and carbon dioxide is released here. In this area, oxygen particles are completely absent. This is the only depleted area of the circulatory system.
The principle of blood circulation
The veins have less pressure. If the heart pumps in the arteries, the outflow of venous blood occurs due to muscle contraction. If this does not happen, the veins are stretched. The accumulated blood contains carbon dioxide, and it poses a threat to the health of the whole organism.
There are valves in the veins. To overcome them, blood requires an effort from the outside, and the heart often does not cope with this. The photo clearly shows how this happens. Due to this, blood cannot flow back.
Orthopedic stockings help squeeze veins. But this is only useful when a person is moving. With a sedentary lifestyle, stockings accelerate the work of the heart. He needs more effort to push blood through the artificially created extra pressure.
It is better to wear orthopedic stockings for walking, running, physical education until the muscles themselves can not press on the vessels. Another negative factor that impedes the movement of blood through the vessels is gravity. When a person is standing, the load is maximum due to body weight and hydrostatic pressure. In a supine position, tissue tension is reduced. Therefore, before putting on orthopedic stockings, it is recommended to raise your legs up for several minutes, allowing the veins to be freed as much as possible.
Blood through the arteries is easier and faster, without stretching the walls of blood vessels. Therefore, they are less noticeable under the tissues of the skin. Diseases of the venous system appear externally due to the dark color of the blood. This becomes especially noticeable when the vessels are on the surface of the skin.
Appointment
The venous system serves to accumulate blood, as well as return depleted volumes to the heart and lungs. However, its functions do not end there. Vessels transfer nutrients to tissues, perform blood circulation functions, saturation of tissues with carbon dioxide is of no small importance.
The outflow of blood through the veins of each person differs and depends on the conditions of existence, as well as the individual characteristics of the body: gender, lifestyle, nutrition, hereditary diseases of the venous system. Also, chronic inflammatory processes in the internal organs, infections, deviations in the immune system have an effect. On the return vessels decay products from the following cells are discharged:
- tumor;
- inflammatory;
- fatty;
- leukocyte count.
The venous system of the lower extremities often suffers. If there is a predisposition to vascular disease, then such people should take precautions. Otherwise, by adulthood, even athletes have leg veins swell.
The venous system transports blood from organs: the stomach, kidneys, intestines. Stagnation in the vessels affects the digestibility of food. Beneficial substances must be distributed throughout all parts of the body. With saturated fatty nutrition, thromboses form, which we observe on the surface of the skin.
Structure
The venous-vascular system experiences pressure from tissue circulation, it has several layers:
- Collagen: tissues resist internal blood pressure.
- Muscle protection tissues: contraction and stretching of the muscles helps the movement of blood and at the same time protects blood vessels from external influences (temperature, pressure, mechanical damage).
- Longitudinal fibers have elasticity, they work constantly when the body moves: flexion and extension of the torso, arms or legs, with tilting the head.
When the veins are stretched, the outflow is difficult, but when the muscles contract, there is an additional force to push the blood. The speed of movement through the vessels is higher due to a set of the following factors: palpitations, movement of the chest during breathing, flexion of the limbs, a change in body position in space, blood thinning due to digestion or the action of drugs. Also, blood flow increases due to an increase in temperature surrounding the body: in a bath, a hot bath.
The main veins have a significant diameter. The movement of fluid inside the vessels occurs in a certain direction due to the presence of numerous valves. They consist of fabrics of increased elasticity and strength. Withstand a huge number of compression cycles throughout a person’s life.
The operation of the venous system cannot be effective without valves. During their weakening, pathological conditions called varicose veins can form. The most frequent place of his appearance is the lower limbs.
Health deviations
The venous system of the lower extremities is vulnerable due to high loads during walking, running, and even in the usual posture - standing position. Diseases of the venous system appear for many reasons, not only physical. This refers, for example, to malnutrition. Excessive consumption of fried, salty, sweet leads to the formation of plaques in the blood, sticking to huge clots. Thrombosis is dangerous for any person.
First, blockages occur in the small veins. But expanding, clots can enter the main vessels leading to the heart. Severe cases of the disease lead to its stop. Blood clots should be removed in a timely manner - this is how the prevention of a dangerous complication is carried out.
The most common varicose veins. This disease affects more than half of the female population. With age, the elasticity of the veins decreases, and the loads remain the same. Often excess weight leads to the formation of stretched walls of blood vessels. The size of the heart does not change, and the volume of blood transmission increases with the acquisition of additional kilograms.
An additional negative factor is a fixed lifestyle. Stagnation of blood provokes not only the appearance of vascular diseases, but also complications in other parts of the body. Oxygen starvation affects the appearance of the skin of the face, hands, neck.
Types of Complications
The cause of varicose veins and thrombosis of the legs becomes a disturbed venous system. The anatomy of the body is designed so that with a passive lifestyle, weakening of the walls of blood vessels is inevitable. Similar health deviations occur with malnutrition and malnutrition, the presence of bad habits, and occupational stress.
Among the numerous diseases of the circulatory system, there are:
- Thrombophlebitis is an inflammatory process on the walls of veins, which subsequently closes the entire vessel. Blood clots are dangerous during the period when they break away from the vessel and begin to wander around the circulatory system. A blood clot can get into almost any part of the body, causing a serious condition. This is possible when small lumps move into the region of the heart or head.
- Varicose veins - an outwardly unpleasant change in the venous channels. This is due to thinning of the walls of the veins, the loss of their ductility. The vessel increases its capacity, where dark blood accumulates. It is easy to notice through the skin of a sick person. Affected areas take chaotic forms. The degree of pathology depends on the characteristics of the body.
- Atherosclerosis of the veins - occurs due to a violation of lipid metabolism. Atherosclerotic plaques are formed in the lumen of the veins that impede the normal outflow of blood. The neglected stages of the disease in the main veins may result in the loss of part of the limb. Signs of complications are tired legs when walking, limping.
- Teleangiectasia - describes the state of expansion of small veins, due to this, stars appear on the skin. This process is long: often health deviations form several years.
Disease provocateurs
For women, the negative factors in the formation of problems with blood vessels have always been high heels and a passive lifestyle. Stagnation in the legs appeared due to puffiness, resulting from a prolonged standing position. Squeezed veins constrict blood flow and reduce the possibility of exchange of oxygen and nutrients.
Almost all pathologies arise due to the appearance of provoking factors:
- Blood clots and weakening of blood vessels occur due to smoking. Smoke deprives the blood of oxygen and saturates with toxins.
- Elevated cholesterol in the blood is often formed as a result of malnutrition in saturated fat foods.
- Hypertension and diabetes contribute to the expansion of the veins.
- Overweight.
- Addiction to alcoholic beverages.
- The hereditary factor is the main source of problems with the vessels of the legs. The presence of hemorrhoids in parents indicates the risk of varicose veins in children.
- A fixed lifestyle, combined with these factors accelerates the formation of diseases.
- Excessive physical activity or the performance of the same type of work.
To exclude problems with the vessels, it is required to conduct a periodic examination of the circulatory system and engage in health: a full and balanced diet, moderate exercise, and careful attitude to the legs.
Diagnostic Methods
The venous system of the legs can be checked by the following methods:
- Doppler study - recommended for hidden symptoms, problems with veins. It is carried out with a primary suspicion of pathology. If there is no doubt that varicose veins or thrombosis has formed, then this method becomes optional.
- Ultrasound duplex examination - combines the capabilities of ultrasound and Doppler scanning methods. The resulting indicators allow us to evaluate the speed of blood flow through the vessels, their geometry, the quality of the walls and the overall work of the venous system.
- Angiography is an X-ray examination using contrast. The state of the vessels is assessed.
Problems with the lower sections can be detected by the primary symptoms:
- Detection of a network of vessels on the legs, blood clot or external defects of the veins.
- Fatigue and pain in the legs in the muscle or vascular part. Periodic edema, inflammation.
- External defects formed asymptomatically.
- Expansion of veins, distortion of the shape of blood vessels, swelling of the ducts.
- Fatigue pain in the popliteal zone or other part in the area of venous ducts.
- Cramps, aches, pinching.
According to the results of the examination, an effective course of individual treatment is prescribed, preventive measures are taken. A pathological venous lymphatic system may not bother a person throughout life. But the disease must manifest itself at an older age.
Pathology development
The weakened venous system of the limbs goes through several stages of varicose veins. Scientists divide the disease into 6 stages according to the degree of danger: from unfavorable to resuscitation. Severe stages are treated surgically.
Define the well-being of a person at each stage of the disease:
- Zero passes imperceptibly externally, but the condition of the legs is already beginning to bother. There is a burning sensation of the upper layers of the skin of the muscles. Puffiness is often formed, fatigue from walking is evident.
- First stage. A grid of small vessels, asterisks and the above conditions are visible.
- The second one. Swollen veins and nodules of dark color are felt. The dimensions of the pathology area change throughout the day. With a fixed lifestyle, the affected areas hurt and ache.
- The third. Evening and night puffiness are added to the listed conditions.
- Fourth. The top layer of skin deteriorates. Dimples, tubercles of impressive sizes appear. Trophic ulcers are often formed.
- Fifth stage. Residual effects after trophic ulcers are visible to the naked eye.
- Sixth. Trophic ulcers are difficult to cure and practically do not heal.
Based on the established stage of the disease, doctors decide on the choice of treatment method. The last, 6th (complicated) form of varicose veins ends on the operating table. External defects that require plastic surgery may remain. A severe outcome is disability, limb deprivation.
How are vessel problems treated?
The venous circulatory system affects all areas of the body. Vascular diseases should be treated immediately. To prevent the formation of complicated stages of varicose veins or thrombosis, preventive measures are used. Enlarged veins try to remove partially or completely. Blood clots are more often cut out to exclude their accidental entry into the blood stream.
Common methods for treating veins help rule out further vessel growth, remove pathological areas, and reduce the risk of complications. Sclerosis is used in beauty salons and clinics. The procedure is safe and takes place in a few minutes. A substance that glues the walls together is introduced into the affected vessel.
The body on its own gets rid of the glued vein. It resolves, in its place lightened tissues form. No external defects. The procedure can be performed without pain relief. They try to apply this method on small veins. On large vessels, abundant bluish areas appear.
The laser coagulation method is chosen when the affected veins are large. The procedure is painful, requires the introduction of local anesthesia. After that, a light guide is inserted into the affected vessel, the radiation of which brews the liquid contents of the vein. If you follow the doctor’s recommendations after surgery, the resulting area resolves.