Varicose Veins During Pregnancy: Causes, Complications & Prevention

Pregnancy is one of the most appropriate periods in a woman's life for varicose veins development. Varicose veins during pregnancy are so very frequent that doctors say it is obligatory for any future mother to get informed on this subject.

Fortunately, most women who find themselves pregnant do so, becoming more motivated to take care of this illness and face any challenge. The good news is that at least one of these challenges can easily be overcome by proper care. Future mothers now have a safe and effective treatment for varicose veins during pregnancy.

Varicose veins: Causes.

It should be noted from the outset that pregnancy itself is not the cause of varicose veins, but a genetic inheritance is.

In over 90% of cases, varicose veins are transmitted hereditary. On this background of genetic predisposition and under the influence of the specific hormones of pregnancy, venous dilatation develop in the lower limbs.

At the same time, activities involving many standing up and sitting down during pregnancy, obesity, and local trauma are factors favoring the installation of the varicose veins problem.

Varicose veins occur spontaneously in about 70% of cases during the sixth month of pregnancy and are localized to the calf or ankle.

Varicose Veins: How they form?

The veins are no longer working properly in the regard that the venous wall becomes stiffer, dilates, and stops the blood from flowing normally.

Over time, these veins change, they are prominent, they get bluish, and their path becomes sinuous.

This is how varicose veins develops.

Varicose Veins: Symptoms and Complications.

Varicose veins are not only an aesthetic problem, they are an evolutionary disease that progresses from symptoms such as pain or discomfort in the calf, burning sensation and tingling, to swelling in the ankle, in severe stages.

l  In the absence of adequate treatment, the disease evolves into dreadful complications: trophic changes in the skin not caused by strokes

l  Ulcers (open wounds that does not heal)

l  Thrombophlebitis (thrombi or clots of blood on the veins' walla)

The more the varicose veins disease is allowed to advance, the greater the lesion's surface area.

Therefore, it is important to treat this condition seriously from the earliest stages. In addition, future mothers who know they are prone to varicose veins have to adhere to a number of preventive rules.

Varicose Veins: Treatment.

Medical treatments for varicose veins include:

l  Sclerotherapy venecta

l  Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy for varicose veins

l  Simple flebectomies simple

l  Surgical removal of varicose veins by classical surgery (inverse stripping and flebectomy)

l  Minimally invasive laser varicose endovenosis surgery

l  Minimally invasive varicose veins with radio-frequency

But for the varicose veins during pregnancy invasive and even minimally invasive procedures are not recommended. Therefore, for the varicose veins during pregnancy, the best methods of treatments include the usage of Heparin.

Heparin is a recommended substance in the treatment of vericose veins because it has anticoagulant properties. Embedded in some molecules called liposomes, Heparin penetrates better in deep skin layers and has a longer anticoagulant effect due to gradual release of heparin from liposomes.

This original Heparin-liposomal transport system makes it possible to easily for the entire amount of administered Heparin to penetrate the stratum corneum and penetrate into the micro-circulation.

Studies show that local administration of liposomal sodium Heparin can significantly reduce the symptoms of chronic varicose veins disease and prevent blood clots.

Spray with liposomal Heparin may be administered to pregnant women, without risks, as it has been demonstrated that it does not cross the placental barrier. In addition, it is easy to apply locally, spraying without requiring to massage the area.

Varicose Veins: Tips for prevention

To prevent the development of varicose veins, doctors recommend pregnant women to daily exercise in the open air, which activates blood circulation.

It is very important to avoid long standing, but neither the long time spent sitting in a chair is recommended.

Those who spend hours in office should take frequent breaks to move around the office or walk, to avoid standing up often, and should keep their legs higher than the ground level.

In addition, future mothers have to give up wearing tight, uncomfortable clothes and stockings that block the blood flow.

These can be replaced with compression stockings that help tone the venous walls. Wearing a low heels shoes (less than 2 inches) is also recommended for legs' health.