Are you troubled by varicose veins? We can advise you on how to get relief!

Varicose veins are bulging veins on the legs that are not only noticeable but can also cause health complications—such as leg swelling, which can limit your daily activities, or night cramps, which lead to poor sleep quality and overall fatigue. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the risk of developing them. Let's find out how varicose veins actually develop and what you can do to prevent them.

• What are varicose veins and how do they develop?
• Symptoms of varicose veins
  • How to recognize internal varicose veins?
• Risk factors for varicose veins
• What helps with varicose veins?
  • Compression stockings
  • What to use to treat varicose veins?
  • CBD and varicose veins
  • Medical procedures
• Conclusion
• FAQ

What are varicose veins and how do they develop

Varicose veins, medically known as varices, are enlarged and twisted veins on the legs. Up to 56% of men and 60% of women suffer from some form of venous disease in the lower limbs. Specifically, varicose veins affect up to a fifth of the population, with women up to four times more likely than men.

Varicose veins are caused by the failure of the venous mechanism in the lower limbs, which ensures the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart despite Earth's gravity. The proper functioning of this mechanism depends on:

• The elasticity of the vein wall: The vein wall must be sufficiently elastic and strong to withstand blood pressure and maintain its diameter.
• Functionality of the venous valves: Inside the veins are one-way valves that open to allow blood to flow upward and close to prevent backflow.
• Muscle pump action: Muscle movement, especially in the calves, compresses the deep veins, helping to push blood toward the heart.

The incidence of varicose veins increases significantly with age due to the natural loss of elasticity of the vein wall and the overall weakening of the body. When the vein wall loses its elasticity, it expands and the valves do not close properly. Blood does not flow smoothly, begins to accumulate in the vein, and the vein protrudes, twists, and turns blue.

Varicose veins are not just an aesthetic problem. If left untreated, they can lead to:

• Inflammation of the veins (varicophlebitis): As a result of impaired blood flow in the varicose vein, inflammation of the superficial veins may develop locally, manifested by significant redness, swelling, and increased sensitivity to touch.
• Blegular ulcers (ulcus cruris): Long-term excess pressure in the venous system can lead to insufficient tissue nutrition and the formation of ulcers. This disease develops in up to 6% of cases in people suffering from varicose veins.
• Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Varicose veins increase the risk of blood clots, which can break loose and travel to the lungs, which can be fatal.

Symptoms of varicose veins

Varicose veins do not appear suddenly, but develop gradually.

How do varicose veins hurt? The pain is dull, the legs feel tired and tight, often accompanied by throbbing, burning, and itching. Swelling of the ankles is common. The symptoms typically worsen in the evening and during prolonged standing, sitting, or in hot weather.

The following may also occur:

• night leg cramps
• darkening of the skin on the legs, eczema
• fine, purple, and blue veins — spider veins and reticular veins

How to recognize internal varicose veins?

Developed subcutaneous varicose veins have a typical twisted appearance and may be purple to blue in color. However, there are also internal varicose veins, which are located in the deep venous system and are not visible to the naked eye. The only reliable way to detect them is through a duplex ultrasound performed by a vascular specialist, who can confirm or rule out their presence.

Risk factors for varicose veins

The predisposition to varicose veins is hereditary.

Hormones have a significant impact on the vitality of the vein wall. Because women undergo natural hormonal changes throughout their lives, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, they are at a significantly higher risk of developing varicose veins. The use of hormonal contraception can also have an impact.

Although you cannot change your genetic makeup, proper prevention can influence when and how the disease develops and how it progresses.

The following factors can increase susceptibility to the disease:

• Overweight: Excessive body weight puts unnecessary strain on the venous system of the lower limbs, increases pressure in the veins, and impairs their function.
• Lack of exercise and lack of breaks during long periods of standing/sitting: Insufficient muscle pump activity hinders blood flow.
• Unsuitable clothing and footwear: Tight clothing and improper footwear, such as high-heeled shoes, can strain muscles and restrict blood flow.

The more factors that come together, the more likely varicose veins are to develop and the worse the development and progression of the disease. The most at-risk group is therefore middle-aged and older women with a genetic predisposition who are overweight and have sedentary jobs.

What helps with varicose veins?

Prevention is key. What can you do to delay and alleviate the symptoms as much as possible?

• Eat healthily: Make sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs.
• Get enough exercise: Exercise promotes proper blood circulation. Walking, swimming, cycling, and yoga are ideal. Also, take regular breaks when sitting or standing for long periods of time.
• Maintain an optimal weight: Losing excess weight will significantly relieve the overloaded venous system.
• Choose appropriate clothing and footwear: Avoid tight clothing and high heels.
• Elevate your legs when resting: Resting with your legs elevated, ideally above heart level, helps relieve the venous system and reduce swelling.

In addition to a healthy lifestyle, modern remedies can also provide relief.

Compression knee-highs and stockings

Compression therapy will not get rid of existing varicose veins, but it significantly relieves discomfort and prevents them from getting worse. Special knee-highs and stockings apply optimal pressure, which is strongest in the ankle area and gradually weakens upwards. This helps compress dilated veins and improve blood flow.

There are several types:

• Class A: Supportive compression, suitable for prevention and long journeys.
• Class I: Light compression, ideal for early varicose veins.
• Class II: Medium compression, used for developed varicose veins and after surgery.
• Class III and IV: Strong and very strong compression, prescribed by a doctor when the disease is severe and accompanied by complications.

What to use to treat varicose veins?

There are a number of ointments for varicose veins on the market. However, these products are not intended to treat varicose veins, but to relieve the discomfort associated with them. Commonly available ointments, gels, and creams can:

• moisturize dry skin
• relieve itching
• help with eczema
• improve blood circulation
• relieve pain
• reduce swelling and inflammation

You can try herbal ointments, such as hemp ointment, or anti-inflammatory gels and creams, such as Voltaren gel and Ibalgin cream. To promote the absorption of blood clots and bruises, try heparinoid gels and creams. If you have more serious problems, don't delay visiting your doctor, who may prescribe corticosteroids or other medications.

CBD and varicose veins

With growing interest in natural supplements, products containing hemp and cannabinoids, especially CBD, are also coming to the fore.

Cannabinoids act on the body primarily through the endocannabinoid system, which is a regulatory system that affects a number of physiological processes, such as mood, pain perception, and sleep.

Studies to date show that CBD can have analgesic effects, relieve inflammation, and contribute to better sleep. It could therefore help with problems associated with varicose veins.

However, research on the effects of CBD and other cannabis compounds specifically on cardiovascular health and varicose veins is very limited, although existing studies suggest potential.

Testing conducted in 2015 on isolated human arteries, for example, showed that CBD could relax the walls of blood vessels, which could lead to better blood flow. However, artery walls differ from vein walls, and the research was conducted outside of a living organism, so it is not entirely clear whether and what effect CBD could have specifically on varicose veins.

Although cannabis has a number of interesting therapeutic effects, current scientific knowledge about its effects on varicose veins is insufficient. Cannabis products can serve as a supplement to relieve some symptoms, but not as a substitute for proven treatments recommended by a doctor.

Medical procedures

It is important to know that once varicose veins develop, they will not disappear on their own. So what works for varicose veins? They can only be permanently removed by medical intervention.

Modern medicine now offers gentle and minimally invasive procedures that often replace traditional surgical vein removal:

• Endothermal ablation: Treatment of varicose veins using heat. A catheter inserted into the vein heats it from the inside, closes it, and the body gradually absorbs it. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is used. These methods have a high success rate, a short recovery time, and leave only minimal scarring.
• Foam sclerotherapy under ultrasound: a special foam is injected into the vein, which chemically irritates its wall, causing the vein to close and disappear. Compared to endothermal ablation, it has a higher risk of recurrence and is therefore used when it is not possible or appropriate to use heat (for example, in the case of anatomical abnormalities or very tortuous veins).
• New non-thermal methods: For example, mechanochemical ablation or the application of cyanoacrylate. These methods are comparable in effectiveness to endothermic ablation, but do not cause thermal damage and do not require tumescent anesthesia. However, long-term data is currently lacking and the methods mentioned are less readily available.

Surgical removal of the vein is only considered when modern methods are not suitable or available. The disadvantage is longer and more difficult healing. Even if you already have varicose veins, don't underestimate prevention — it can not only significantly relieve your symptoms, but also slow down the development of new varicose veins.

The following table summarizes the available options for the treatment and prevention of varicose veins, their effectiveness, and the degree of pain involved.

	Removal of varicose veins	Effect (treatment outcome)	Painfulness
Healthy lifestyle	no	comprehensive prevention	none
Compression therapy	no	prevention, relief from swelling	none
Lubrication and additives	no	symptom relief	none
Endothermal ablation	yes	vein absorption	moderate
Modern non-thermal methods	yes	vein absorption	small
Surgical removal	yes	vein removal	higher

Conclusion

Varicose veins are caused by a weakened venous system in the lower limbs. It is a common disease that gradually worsens with age. Although the onset of the disease is genetically determined, it can be delayed and its symptoms alleviated by a healthy lifestyle and appropriate prevention.

An effective prevention method is compression therapy. Ointments and CBD can also relieve the symptoms. However, varicose veins can only be removed by medical intervention. Modern methods such as endothermic ablation or foam sclerotherapy under ultrasound guidance are effective and minimally invasive.

Sources:

• ČPZP - Czech Industrial Health Insurance Company | Varicose veins |
• Epidemiology of chronic venous disease - PubMed
• What are varicose veins (varices) | VASCUMED
• Varicose veins: diagnosis and management
• Cannabidiol causes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of human mesenteric arteries via CB1 activation | Cardiovascular Research | Oxford Academic

Author: Natálie Kubíčková

 

Foto: AI

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