What is healthy blood circulation?
To better understand the varicose vein formation mechanism, it is worth dedicating some time to the venous system anatomy of lower limbs. The length of all blood vessels in a leg is as much as 100 kilometers. Some veins are hidden deep down between the muscles and form the so-called deep venous system through which ca. 80 per cent of blood flows to the heart, and it is their sufficiency that decides about the proper functioning of the body.. Most venous system disorders, however, occur in superficial veins and this is where the varicose veins form. Both systems are connected by tiny perforating veins called perforators. In normal conditions, blood in lower limbs flows from the superficial vein system through perforators to the deep venous system, whence it flows towards the heart. The vertical body position causes veins to work very hard to transport blood from feet to the heart located more than a meter above ground and to overcome gravity forces! In order to help blood to reach its destination, there is the so-called vein muscle pump in the foot and calf, which pushes blood upwards through continuous contractions. And there are venous valves that prevent blood reflux in place, which care for one-way blood flow.
Formation
Through sedentary or sitting lifestyle, we do not activate the pumps supporting blood transportation to the heart. Without the muscle pump, blood loses the fight against gravity: the speed of the flow drops, blood lies in vessels (the so-called blood stasis) and exerts ever greater pressure on the vessels’ walls.
To prevent damage to blood vessel walls and valves caused by increased pressure, our body has developed a defence mechanism: water contained in the blood permeates through the walls to the tissue making the pressure drop, but legs are swelling. This is the mechanism of edema.
When often the blood circulation in legs is weakened, valves give way to the pressure and lose their tightness: blood flows back, and its surplus “dilates” the vessels’ walls segmentally. In the places where veins broaden, there form varicose veins commonly referred to as “spiders”. If blood stays in the vessel for too long, the veins stretch and become longer and wider, and like a stretched spring do not get restored to their former shape. The insufficiency deepens and in the places of abnormal expansion, there form enlarged veins, i.e. varices. A varixed filled with blood lacking oxygen is seen under the skin as a blue, windy line with enlargements.
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